Batteries Plus, the nation’s largest specialty battery retailer, is bringing holiday magic to life by donating over one million batteries to this year’s U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots Campaign. This milestone donation far exceeds the company’s initial goal and marks an even more significant increase from past contributions. These batteries are an essential component of the campaign, ensuring that every toy donated to families in need can be powered and enjoyed to its fullest potential.
“Reaching more than one million batteries shows how much is possible when communities, franchisees, and customers all unite for a worthy cause like Toys for Tots,” said Scott Williams, CEO of Batteries Plus. “Knowing that we’re helping power the holiday joy for so many kids across the country is an incredibly humbling moment for everyone at Batteries Plus.”
Franchisees Spark Local Generosity
Franchisees played a key role in driving the success of this initiative, organizing community events and partnerships to maximize the impact of the battery collection efforts.
- Knoxville, TN: Franchise owner Todd Williams broke local records with the number of batteries gathered this year.
- Bradenton, FL: Rich Epps, another dedicated franchise owner, rallied his community to power even more donated toys.
- Las Cruces, NM: U.S. Marine Corps veteran and franchise owner Keith Placencio teamed up with a local technology company to donate thousands of batteries, including those for walkie-talkies.
Other cities, including Minneapolis, MN, Olympia, WA, Phoenix, AZ, and Gainesville, FL, saw franchisees and customers coming together to champion the spirit of giving, proving that holiday cheer is a collective effort.
Toys For Tots Origins
Toys for Tots, founded in 1947 by Marine Corps Reserve Major Bill Hendricks, is a charitable program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve. The inspiration came from Hendricks’ wife, Diane, who had handcrafted a doll to donate to a child in need but couldn’t find an organization to accept it. This led Hendricks to mobilize fellow Marines, collecting and distributing 5,000 toys to underprivileged children in Los Angeles during the program’s first year. The initiative quickly gained national attention, and by 1948, the Marine Corps adopted Toys for Tots as a nationwide community action project.
The mission of Toys for Tots is to collect new, unwrapped toys and distribute them to economically disadvantaged children during the holiday season, delivering a message of hope and joy. Over the years, the program has expanded its outreach beyond Christmas, implementing initiatives like a Literacy Program to provide books to children in low-income neighborhoods and a Native American Program that donates toys and books to children on remote reservations. As of 2016, Toys for Tots had distributed over 512 million toys to more than 281 million children across the United States, embodying the Marine Corps’ commitment to community service and the well-being of the nation’s youth.
Supporting Families, One Battery at a Time
The partnership between Batteries Plus and Toys for Tots highlights an often-overlooked but critical need for families receiving donations. “So often, toys come with the familiar disclaimer ‘batteries not included.’ But for families in need, that additional cost of batteries can be a burden,” said retired Marine Colonel Ted Silvester, Vice President of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. “We’re incredibly grateful for this meaningful partnership with Batteries Plus and their generous donation of over one million batteries to power donated toys this holiday season.”
By donating batteries to accompany toys, Batteries Plus ensures that the joy of receiving a gift doesn’t stop at unwrapping it—every child can experience the magic of a toy ready to play.
