Best Buy Launches Annual "Toys for Teens" Drive

Best Buy is launching its annual drive to collect gifts for underprivileged teenagers - one of the most overlooked groups of kids during the holiday season. As the exclusive sponsor of "Toys for Teens," Best Buy teams with the Marine Corps to gather donations of gifts for children ages 12 to 15. In addition to the customer donations made at the 650-plus Best Buy stores in the United States, the Best Buy Children's Foundation is awarding $250,000 to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation to use toward the purchase of gifts for teenagers during the holidays.

"Teens love the products in our stores, especially music, movies games and gadgets. By serving our communities as 'Toys for Teens' collection sites, we make it easier for our customers to make the lives of thousands of disadvantaged teens a little brighter during the holidays," said Paula Prahl, vice president of public affairs for Best Buy. "Every year the results are incredible because of the generosity of Best Buy customers. Our customers donate thousands of gifts, and last year alone they also donated more than $240,000 in cash to the program."

Beginning immediately, all Best Buy stores will act as collection sites for "Toys for Teens." The stores will collect gifts through December 18. Customers may drop new and unwrapped items into collection boxes at the stores or make donations at Best Buy store registers in $1, $5 or $10 increments.

"More than three million young teens need assistance during the holidays, and year after year many are overlooked when it comes to holiday giving. Best Buy understands that and they make it simple for customers to give," said retired Major William Grein, vice president of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. "Throughout the years, Best Buy has emerged as a crucial contributor to our toy collection program. Additionally, their history of financial gifts, when combined with those of their customers, exceeds $1,000,000. It's obvious Best Buy has impacted hundreds of thousands of young lives - for that we are thankful."

Best Buy has teamed up with the U.S. Marine Corps for eight years, initially through the Toys for Tots program and more recently through the "Toys for Teens" effort. This is the fourth year Best Buy has been the exclusive sponsor of "Toys for Teens."

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