News

Bruegger's launches Toys for Tots holiday campaign

November 4, 2009

Bruegger's is teaming up with the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation to meet the dramatic increase in requests for toys this holiday season. Through its "Kids Helping Kids" campaign, nearly 275 participating Bruegger's locations across the country will become toy drop-off locations for Toys for Tots from now until Dec. 15. For each new, unwrapped toy donated, kids can choose a free meal from the bakery-cafÃ©'s new kids menu, launched in September 2009. All toys collected will be distributed locally. "Toys for Tots is such a great cause, and one we wanted to support locally," said James Greco, Bruegger's CEO. "They produce remarkable results every year and we hope to make 2009 even more successful." In 2008, Marines distributed more than 16.2 million toys to an estimated 7.6 million children in throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. This year, the National Center for Childhood Poverty reports there are 14 million U.S. children living in poverty and an additional 15 million children living in low-income families. "The numbers are staggering. As families continue to struggle to make ends meet, Toys for Tots fears many children will face Christmas morning without a toy," said Major Bill Grein, USMC (Ret.), vice president of marketing for the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. "Our partnership with Bruegger's will help us deliver the magic of the holidays to more children than ever before." For those adults who want to join in the giving, Bruegger's will donate $1 for each guest who becomes a "fan" of Bruegger's Facebook page or who logs in to receive the Bruegger's newsletter. Guests who visit Bruegger's Facebook page also can donate cash directly to Toys for Tots.