Griz for Kids collects record amount of donations

The Montana Grizzlies football team paired up with Mountain FM in November to sponsor the fifth annual Griz for Kids Toy Drive. This year, co-chairs Marc Mariani and Levi Horn led the call for toy and cash donations, and Griz Nation answered by providing more than 3,000 toys and a record $3,500 in cash donations.

The drive kicked off Nov. 12 at The Bookstore at UM with nearly 30 Griz players collecting toys and signing autographs for hundreds of fans. The drive continued when thousands of Griz faithful brought donations to the Nov. 14 game against Northern Colorado.

“The holiday season is a time for giving and generosity,” senior wide receiver Mariani said. “There’s no better way to give back to your community than to donate to the Griz for Kids Toy Drive, and Griz fans really stepped up this year.”

Former Griz offensive lineman Chris Orwig started Griz for Kids in 2004 after realizing the potential the 25,000 fans who pack Washington-Grizzly Stadium have to make a difference in the community. The drive, which is held annually in conjunction with Mountain FM’s Mountain of Giving campaign, has grown every year since.

“The Griz asked the best fans in football to help support our community and help those in need this holiday season,” said Horn, a senior offensive tackle for the Griz. “They delivered.”

Mountain FM’s Sheila Callahan, the main event coordinator, said the success of the drive depended on many people, including Beach Transportation, whose drivers started handing out fliers and encouraging riders to donate weeks before the drive. Many Beach Transportation drivers, staff, retired staff and families also helped sort through thousands of toys after the drive ended.

“The ‘Beach Boys’ have been helping us with the very labor-intensive toy sort since the very first year,” Callahan said. “We could not do it without them.”

Several Missoula-area agencies benefitted from the drive, including Mountain Home Montana, Head Start, Early Head Start, the Missoula Indian Center, Youth Homes Inc., Watson Children’s Shelter, Big Brothers Big Sisters, YMCA and WORD.

“The agencies were just amazed this year when they came to collect toys — it was the best selection we have ever had,” Callahan said.

“This means the world to our kids,” said Chris Carey of Youth Homes Inc. “It gives the most important gift we can provide these children — gifts of relationship and a sense of belonging.”

All Missoula Federal Credit Union locations are still accepting cash donations for the Mountain of Giving campaign. People also can send donations to Mountain of Giving, c/o the Mountain Broadcasting Foundation, P.O. Box 309, Missoula, MT 59806. All donations are tax deductible.