December 18, 2001

ON TOYS FOR TOTS AND THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT

On Dec. 12, here at MDA National Headquarters in Tucson, Ariz., MDA held a holiday party for the fourth year in a row celebrating its participation in the Toys for Tots program administered by the U.S. Marine Corps.

Tucson restaurateur and MDA National Vice President Bob McMahon, center, joined MDA staff in a ceremony to present donated toys to U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Alejandro Montez for the Toys for Tots program.

Prior to the party, MDA staff placed unwrapped toys under the tree in the annex next to our Association's lobby known as the Jerry Lewis Room. In addition, MDA also served as a community drop-off point so that Tucson neighbors could add their toy donations.

At the conclusion of the Dec. 12 party, some two hundred donated toys were handed over to Marine Corps Sgt. Alejandro Montez, making an aggregate total of over 700 toys collected at MDA over the past four years. (Last year, Toys for Tots collected some 37,000 books, toys and other gifts for low-income children in Southern Arizona.)

Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup and Sgt. Alejandro Montez were among the attendees at the holiday party at MDA national headquarters in Tucson, Ariz.

For this festive affair on MDA premises, we were privileged to be joined by community leaders including Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup, Pima County Supervisor Ann Day and Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckleberry. Walkup took the microphone to speak in warm terms of Tucson's pride in being home to MDA.

Ginny Clements, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Golden Eagle Distributors, and Bob McMahon, CEO of Metro Restaurants, also attended and spoke about the importance of MDA's role in the community. Clements and McMahon both are leaders in the Tucson business community and serve as MDA National Vice Presidents.

"We need to play after every storm," says Mattie Stepanek, 2002 MDA National Goodwill Ambassador.

A video segment about newly announced 2002 MDA National Goodwill Ambassador Mattie Stepanek was aired for all attendees. Although most of those present were very familiar with the work MDA does, the touching story of this 11-year-old best-selling poet from Maryland who has mitochondrial myopathy was a potent reminder of the crucial necessity of MDA's mission.

In the video, Mattie spoke about his belief that we all go through "life storms" when our souls are tested through some crisis or other. All families affected by progressive neuromuscular diseases can understand the truth of that assertion. In 2001, all Americans experienced a collective "life storm" as a result of terrorist attacks.

However, Mattie also says: "We need to play after every storm." One way that those of us at MDA can do so and lighten our own hearts is by helping deserving youngsters experience the joy of the holiday season. We hope that our participation in the outstanding Toys for Tots program will go a long way toward accomplishing that purpose.

With every best wish…

The Ross Report Archive