Press Releases

December 24, 2007. Lusaka.

United States Marines Making Christmas a Little Brighter

On Christmas Eve morning, a United States Marine from the American Embassy in Lusaka dressed as Santa and gave Christmas presents to needy children at four local Lusaka orphanages.  This follows a U.S. Marine Corps tradition.  For more than 60 years, Marines across the globe have given toys to needy children, and the detachment here is happy to reach out to those in Lusaka. 

“This is a great opportunity for us to give something back to the Zambian community,” said Marine Gunnery Sergeant and Detachment Commander Brett Amedee.  He added, "Giving toys to children is just something we do.  Every U.S. Marine wants to be a part of this.  We want to make children smile."

The Marines feel that reaching out like this is part of their duty to society and have overseen the Toys for Tots campaign.  The mission of Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is to raise funds to provide toys to supplement the collections of local Toys for Tots coordinators; defray the costs of conducting annual Toys for Tots campaigns; provide administrative, advisory, financial, logistic and promotional support of local coordinators; provide other support that the Marine Corps, as a federal agency, cannot provide; and conduct public education and information programs, which call the general public to action in support of Toys for Tots.  With the donations from U.S. Embassy staff and family members in Lusaka, the Marines were happy to distribute a little Christmas cheer to more than 200 children at Open Arms, Tache Home, Missionaries of Charity, and Kondwa Day Care Center.  In addition, the Marines have donated funds for playground swings and food supplies. 

In his remarks to the children at Missionaries of Charity, Gunnery Sergeant Amedee reinforced the Marines commitment: “It is our duty to help those who need it the most.  I’m delighted to bring the children of Open Arms, Tache Home, Missionaries of Charity, and Kondwa Day Care Center toys and clothes, which have been donated from the entire Unites States Mission here in Zambia.”

The U.S. Marine Corps has overseen the Toys for Tots campaign since 1947.  The program is conducted throughout the United States, and at U.S. Embassies around the globe. In nearly sixty years of holiday service, the Marines have distributed well over 300 million toys to nearly 200 million needy children worldwide.  Many prominent Americans have been involved in Toys for Tots, including Walt Disney, who designed the campaign’s first materials.
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