‘Today’s’ 11th annual gift drive

The "Today" show is thrilled to announce that its 2004 holiday toy and gift drive is the most successful in its 11 year history. Thanks to the generous contributions of viewers and corporations, a record $32.6 million worth of toys, books, games, sports equipment, clothing, toiletries, gift certificates, computer software and other wonderful gifts were distributed to three million children in 210 charitable non-profit organizations in all 50 states.

The "Today" show Toy Drive is a project of the Today Show Charitable Foundation, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit organization. All donations are tax deductible to the extent the law allows.

The first toy drive in morning show history is unique in providing gifts for underserved children and teenagers nationwide. The "Today" show began its Toy Drive on November 29th and finished on December 24th. During that time it collected thousands of toys from the crowd outside Studio 1a and distributed nearly four million items from its partner companies.

Now a Rockefeller Center tradition, surprise celebrities visited the crowd each morning to gather up their donations. Among those who came to help this year: Jim Carrey, Sarah Jessica Parker, Edie Falco, LL Cool J, Chris Isaak, Hillary Swank, Harry Connick, Jr., Lynn Redgrave, NY Mets manager Willie Randolph, Oscar winner Anna Pacquin, Joe Perry from Aerosmith, Susan Lucci, Days of our Lives star Allison Sweeney, Molly Shannon, Tony award winner Phylicia Rashad, NASCAR Champion Kurt Busch and Jimmy Buffet came to celebrate the holiday spirit with the crowd on the plaza.

All donations, large and small, put a smile on the face of a child who may otherwise not have received any gift for the holidays. The items are often given to families who cannot afford to buy presents, so that the children can open a gift from a loved one. These items go to homeless shelters, children's group homes, foster family services, domestic abuse shelters, Native American missions, military bases, hospitals, preschools, after school programs, and Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

We want to thank everyone who donated online or visited us in Rockefeller Center for their continuing support of our holiday gift drive. We thank the celebrities, companies, viewers and friends who shared in the spirit of the season and the spirit of giving. We wish you all a very happy and healthy 2005.

2004 DONORS Our sincere thanks go to the following organizations for their generous contributions: TY (www.ty.com), School Specialty, Inc. (www.ChildrensSpecialty.com), McGraw-Hill Companies (www.mcgraw-hill.com), Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc (www.eb.com), World Book (www.worldbook.com), Baby Einstein (www.babyeinstein.com), Boyds (www.boydsstuff.com), Kodak (www.kodak.com), Rubbermaid (www.rubbermaidtoughtools.com), Fisher-Price (www.fisher-price.com), Build-A-Bear (www.buildabear.com), Random House Audio - Listening Library Division (www.randomhouse.com), Cheerios (www.cheerios.com), Avon (www.avon.com), Cancer Recovery Foundation (www.cancerrecovery.org), Microsoft (www.microsoft.com/unlimitedpotential), Palisades Toys (www.palisadestoys.com), Scholastic (www.scholastic.com), Mattel (www.mattel.com), Sears (www.sears.com and www.landsend.com), DK Publishing (www.dk.com), Good Times (www.goodtimes.com), Uglydolls (www.uglydolls.com), Harper Collins Children's Books (www.harperchildrens.com), Marshall Fields (www.fields.com), Rounder Records (www.rounder.com), Eduscreen (www.eduscreen.com), Leap Frog (www.leapfrog.com), Little Brown Books for Young Readers (www.lb-kids.com), Lavinia's World (www.laviniasworld.com), Sanrio (www.sanrio.com), Publications International (www.pilbooks.com), RC2 Corporation (www.rc2corp.com), Cookie Lee (www.cookielee.com), Pampers (www.pampers.com), First Act (www.firstact.com), GAP (www.gap.com), Tupperware (www.tupperware.com), Zales (www.zales.com), Hasbro (www.hasbro.com), Xavix (www.xavix.com), Crest Spinbrush and Crest Healthy Smile 2010 (www.spinbrush.com), Goody (www.goody.com), Sharpie (www.sharpie.com), Hit Entertainment (www.hitentertainment.com), Discovery Toys Inc. (www.discoverytoysinc.com), Charmin (www.charmin.com), Bloomingdale's (www.bloomingdales.com), Jakks Pacific, Inc. (www.jakkspacific.com), Daffy's (www.daffys.com), Tiny Tots Sports (www.TinyTotSports.com), Majesco (www.majescogames.com), Southwestern Company (www.southwestern.com), Crest Whitestrips (www.whitestrips.com), Care Bears (www.playalongtoys.com), National Companies (www.bign.com), Federal Express (www.fedex.com), Bally Total Fitness (www.ballyfitness.com), Meredith Books (www.bhg.com), Udderly Smooth (www.racethecow.com), Visa (www.visa.com/gift), Kay Jewelers (www.kay.com), Peak Entertainment (www.pokerforacure.org), Helzberg Diamonds (www.helzbergrocks.com), Charity Bear Company (www.charitybear.com), Dalmatian Press (www.dalmatianpress.com), United Media (www.unitedmedia.com), LEGO (www.america.lego.com), Athletic Baby (www.athleticbaby.com), Putumayo World Music (www.putumayo.com), Nu Skin (www.nuskin.com), Country Bunny Bath & Body (www.cbunny.com), Kideo (www.kideo.com), AFLAC (www.aflac.com), Innovage (www.innovage.net), Daisy Blue Naturals (www.daisybluenaturals.com), Krispy Kreme (www.krispykreme.com), Paintbox Press (www.paintboxpress.com), Celebrity Staffing Services (www.celebritystaffing.com), Goody/Newell (www.goody.com), Moki Time  (www.alacountryboulevard.com/), Quiet Places (www.quietplacesforyou.com), 1-800-FLOWERS (www.1800flowers.com), Fifth Avenue Collection (www.fifthavenuecollection.com), Outland Books (www.outlandbooks.com), Lion's Gate Entertainment (www.lgf.com), Double Day (www.randomhouse.com), Good Books & Company (www.goodbooksandcompany.com), Accentz (www.accentzonline.com), The Glass Bracelet (www.theglassbracelet.com), Briarpatch (www.briarpatch.com), KIDSTUFF (www.kidstuff.com), Big Apple Circus (www.bigapplecircus.com), Longaberger (www.longaberger.com), Crayola (www.crayola.com), Direct Selling Association (www.dsa.org), Barewalls (www.bearwalls.com), TARRAH Cosmetics (www.tarrah.com), Lucky Chick (www.luckychick.com), Birds on a Wire Productions (www.wirebirds.com), NSA (www.juiceplus.com), Lifestyles USA (www.lifestyles.net), Aeromax (www.aeromaxtoys.com), Back Creek Rocking Horse Co. (www.rockinghorseusa.com), Claire Murray Home Gallery (www.clairemurray.com), The Jeff Gordon Foundation (www.jeffgordonfoundation.org/)

MORE FROM TODAY

Today Section Front

Three siblings get gift of hearing on same day Duggar baby No. 19 arrives early Admitted Tiger mistress: No $, only heartbreak Man, dog thought dead survive Baghdad blast How to get the hottest holiday gifts for less Holy cow! Divine bovine has cross on his head Grandma who crashed into swamp going strong 239 lbs. lighter, he’s ‘Biggest Loser’ of all time Berlin sets up ‘rest stop’ for weary river beavers White House holiday: Feeding 50,000 guests Today Section Front   Add Today headlines to your news reader: