Toys for Tots Drives Home to Atlanta

HAMPTON, Ga., (Nov. 16, 2001) - On Oct. 21 in the EA SPORTS 500 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, Tony Stewart drove to strong second-place finish in a Home Depot Pontiac that carried a special Coca-Cola Polar Bears paint scheme that benefited the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots program.

A portion of the proceeds stemming from the sale of licensed merchandise featuring the Coca-Cola Polar Bears continues to be donated to Toys for Tots, a non-profit organization that distributes toys to needy children during the holiday season.

Taking the promotion one step further was The Home Depot, setting up Toys for Tots collection centers at its mobile display unit beginning with the Talladega race. Joe Gibbs Racing chipped in as well, spurring a Toys for Tots drive at its Huntersville, N.C., shop on Fri., Oct. 5.

The following is a rundown of what this promotion has given to Toys for Tots … by the numbers.

8,500 Amount of toys The Home Depot donated to Toys for Tots to kick off the promotion.

$150,000 Estimated value of the toys The Home Depot donated to Toys for Tots

7,900 Amount of toys Joe Gibbs Racing delivered to Toys for Tots stemming from the toy drive they held at their shop Oct. 5.

2,982 Number of die-casts Action Performance donated to Toys for Tots

$8,500 Total mount of money NASCAR fans have donated to the Toys for Tots drives at The Home Depot mobile display unit in Talladega, Phoenix, Rockingham (N.C.) and Homestead (Fla.).

160 Total amount of toys delivered to the Toys for Tots drives at The Home Depot mobile display unit in Talladega, Phoenix, Rockingham, and Homestead.

$14,000 Amount that Tony Stewart and Bobby Labonte race memorabilia generated on eBay.com via an online auction for Toys for Tots

$22,500 Total amount, raised prior to the Atlanta race weekend, for Toys for Tots.

1 Weekend left to visit The Home Depot mobile display unit, located outside the race track on Richard Petty Blvd., near the "G" entrance of the speedway, to donate toys or money to the Toys for Tots drive.

500 Number of fans who will receive a $5 voucher good for merchandise on The Home Depot souvenir trailer if they're one of the first to donate to the Toys for Tots drive.

$10,000 Goal for the total amount of money fans can raise for the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots following this weekend's Winston Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

"We're pleased that NASCAR fans have also embraced the Toys for Tots drive," said Suzanne Apple, vice president of community affairs for The Home Depot. "It's a wonderful feeling to know that local children near the NASCAR events will have a better holiday season through the combined efforts of The Home Depot, Coca-Cola, Joe Gibbs Racing, Interstate Batteries and Action Performance."