The UPS Store and Marine Toys for Tots Foundation announced they are teaming up with “Arthur Christmas,” an Aardman production for Sony Pictures Animation, to help deliver the gift of reading through a new book. Through Dec. 31, participating The UPS Store locations will sell donation cards to benefit the Toys for Tots Literacy Program. Every dollar donated helps purchase books for less fortunate children in local communities throughout the United States.
” ‘Arthur Christmas’ brings to life the theme of Toys for Tots – that every child deserves to experience the magic of the holidays,” says Stuart Mathis, president of MBE, franchisor of the nearly 4,400 The UPS Store domestic locations. “During the holidays, The UPS Store franchise network hopes to deliver this magic through the Toys for Tots Literacy Program. With the generosity of our customers, we have raised more than $1.7 million since 2008 to purchase books for less fortunate children nationwide.”
Characters from the 3-D CGI-animated family comedy (in theaters Nov. 23) are incorporated into The UPS Store network’s Toys for Tots Literacy Program in-center donation campaign. Additionally, through Dec. 31, customers can go to The UPS Store Facebook page to make a donation directly to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation and learn more about the Toys for Tots Literacy Program.
Other online components of the holiday campaign include games on ArthurChristmas.com: a gift wrapping game that provides pack-and-ship tips by The UPS Store, and the S1 Flight Simulator that gives participants the chance to obtain bonus game time by checking in on foursquare at a participating The UPS Store location to receive a secret code. Customers also can receive 20 percent off holiday printing when they check in on foursquare at a participating The UPS Store location for a limited time only.
The UPS Store locations will continue additional fund-raising activities throughout the year, including a coin box program for customers to donate their spare change. One hundred percent of donations go to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, which will use the donations to purchase books for less fortunate children in the local community.
The Toys for Tots Literacy Program, a year-round initiative of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, provides the nation’s most economically disadvantaged children access to books with the goal of enhancing their ability to read and communicate effectively so they can compete academically and succeed in life.
“Our nation’s less fortunate children deserve the resources to learn and experience the joy of reading,” says Lt. Gen. Pete Osman, USMC (Ret.), president and chief executive officer of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. “The Toys for Tots Literacy Program provides the gift of a book which can leave a lasting impact on a child even after the holidays are over.”
