Thanks to Mike Informer for this article from The Stamford Advocate:

Wrestlers are main attraction at toy donation event

By Veronica Ouellette
Special Correspondent

Published December 11 2007

STAMFORD - Police officers, U.S. Marines and professional wrestlers from Stamford-based World Wrestling Entertainment joined forces yesterday to collect toys for children in need.

Fans of the WWE wrestlers stood in line at Tommy K Vitamins on Research Drive with one or two donations for Toys for Tots, a program of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. They waited patiently with their paraphernalia for professional wrestlers Jeff Hardy, Cody Rhodes and Diva Mickie James. Some fans traveled from other states.

The Link family - 6-year-old Sadie, 9-year-old Adin and Ilyse, their mother - drove from New Jersey to see the wrestlers they watch on TV.

Every year of their lives, the Link children have donated one of their presents to Toys for Tots.

"I think it's really good to have it for people who can't afford to have anything," Adin said.

The wrestling stars arrived shortly after noon with an escort of Marines and two Humvees. Cameras flashed, girls screamed and children were happy to miss school.

Seeing wrestling superstars is a dream for some children, but donating a toy should be an experience for all children, said 13-year-old Samantha Wood from Norwalk.

"I think it's great, especially around Christmas, because they don't get anything, and I think it's great that we can help them," Samantha said.

She attended with her brother, Daniel, 9, and her mother. They planned to go to last night's "Raw" 15th anniversary show at the Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, where Marines also collected toy donations.

Dan Wilmot, 9, of Stamford, attended with his mother, Amy, and brother, Nick, 11.

"I think it's a good thing to do because some might want more activities to do and you're donating activities to kids who can't pay for it," Dan said.

The Wilmot children missed the last half of school to attend the event.

"I had a moral debate as to whether or not to take them," Amy Wilmot said. "It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them."

It also was the first such event for Toys for Tots. With a donation, children got an autograph and photo with the wrestlers.

"It's a win-win situation for everyone," said Sgt. Christian Mejia of the Marines. "What it's all about is helping out the community."

James said she learned as a child the importance of helping others.

"When I was 6 years old, our house burned down. All our Christmas stuff was inside. We had nothing," she said. "Through Toys for Tots and churches, we had a really good Christmas. It's good to give back because someone gave to me."

Marines' collection under way in the area

STAMFORD - This year's holiday Toys for Tots campaign by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve is under way in the Stamford area.

Marines are collecting new unwrapped toys for infants to 12-year-olds and distributing them, organizer George Ducanic said. A list of drop-off sites follows. For information, call the Toys for Tots distribution center, 595-9343, or Ducanic at 219-9025.

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