DETROIT — Thanks to a generous contribution from Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores, more than 10,000 toys, bicycles and tablets will be distributed to families in Detroit, Flint and surrounding neighborhoods this holiday season. U.S. Marines and volunteers of the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program will host a special gift event for families and children in Detroit on December 13 while Voices for Children will be coordinating a similar event in Flint on December 15. Mr. Gores is also supporting The Salvation Army Downriver Corps with an additional $25,000 donation.
Tricycles with helmets will be gifted to all children under three. Children ages 4-7 will receive bicycles with helmets. Youth ages 8-10 will receive drones and those ages 11-13 will receive tablets.
“All children should experience the joy of receiving gifts during the holiday season,” said Gores. “There’s nothing better than children smiling and experiencing real joy. We started doing this many years ago and I’m pleased that we continue to help families during this special time of year. We are excited and honored to partner with these great organizations that are doing important work for Michigan youth.”
Gores and his wife Holly support a number of Detroit-area causes focused on improving the quality of life for families in need and contributing to the revitalization of the region and the state. They both grew up in the area and have quietly supported holiday toy distributions across Michigan since 2006 and delivered over 145,000 gifts to families, according to a spokesperson for Mr. Gores.
The Gores family’s partnership with Toys for Tots began in 2009 and has delivered over 125,000 toys to more than 60,000 children. (Prior to aligning with Toys for Tots, Mr. Gores supported similar gift-giving programs through other organizations.) After supporting the programs as a “Secret Santa” for seven years, Mr. Gores agreed in 2013 to be identified in order to encourage others to join in with contributions of their own.
“Finding a present under the tree on Christmas morning is an experience every child deserves,” said retired Marine Colonel Ted Silvester, Vice President of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. “Tom and Holly Gores have certainly gone above and beyond to help us bring that joy to children whose families have suffered so much. This has been an especially difficult year to raise support and collect toys, so Tom and Holly’s effort in support of the Marine Toys for Tots programs in Michigan will fulfill the Christmas holiday dreams of thousands of less fortunate children who otherwise might have been forgotten.”
Voices for Children CEO Claudnyse Hollman said the donation will brighten the holidays for children who often never feel the joy of the season.
“Voices for Children is incredibly grateful to Tom and Holy Gores for being champions for child survivors. The youth served by Voices for Children Advocacy Center are in crisis. Without the center, they would struggle to navigate complex systems as the littlest survivors of abuse, human trafficking, and neglect. The Gores family is not only providing Christmas for these kids, but they are also providing the first of many childhood staples like bicycles and those special Christmas gifts you never forget,” said Hollman. “This generous gift is providing a Christmas for the communities most hurting, but also most resilient, little superheroes. Thank you for honoring their strength and bravery by bringing them Christmas joy!”
Shawn Sutter, Sr. – Lieutenant, Pastor, Administrator and Corps Officer for The Salvation Army Downriver Corps Community Center – said donations from the Gores family will bolster their current campaign and help reach additional families.
“The Salvation Army Downriver would like to thank Tom and Holly Gores for helping us provide gifts for over 700 Downriver families with children,” said Lt. Shawn. “We thank them for bringing the holiday spirit to the Downriver communities and showing our children the act of giving without expecting anything in return.”