Gene Weller is the coordinator of the Centre County Toys for Tots program. He is a retired United States Marine Corps Major. After retiring from the Marines, he brought the Toys for Tots program to Centre County in 1987 with the help of the Nittany Leathernecks. As coordinator for over 30 years, he has helped collect and distribute toys to less fortunate children in the county during Christmas. In 2015, over 10,800 toys were collected and distributed through the program to benefit more than 2,000 children.

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Centre County
Toys for Tots
United States
Marine Corps Reserve
Gene Weller
Centre County Toys for Tots Coordinator
Eugene “Gene” Weller
is an Allstate insurance
agent, retired United
States Marine Corps Major,
and coordinator of the
Centre County Toys for
Tots program.
After more than 23 years
with the Marines, he
retired and began to work
for Ford Motor Company before moving on
to Allstate Insurance.
In 1987, after catching wind of Bucks
County’s Toys for Tots program, he wanted
to become more involved but was unsure
of how to do so while living 200 miles
away. With the assistance of the Nittany
Leathernecks, he was able to bring Toys for
Tots to Centre County.
While Weller has dedicated most of
his free time over the past 30 years to
Toys for Tots, he and his wife also enjoy
volunteering with the Special Olympics,
among other charities. Though retired, he
is still very much involved with the Marine
Corps League; he has presented awards at
Eagle Scout and Gold Award ceremonies
and has participated in color guard details.
Contact us
lemont-pa.toysfortots.org
Elweller@aol.com
814-237-3148
To request a toy, make a donation, or
learn more about our organization,
please visit:
www.toysfortots.org

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The mission of the United States Marine
Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to
collect new, unwrapped toys during October,
November and December each year, and
distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to
less fortunate children in the community in
which the campaign is conducted.
About Us
Mission
Objective
Toys for Tots aims to: help less fortunate
children throughout the United States
experience the joy of Christmas; to play an
active role in the development of one of our
nation’s most valuable resources – our
children; to unite all members of local
communities in a common cause for three
months each year during the annual toy
collection and distribution campaign; and
to contribute to better communities in the
future.
Goal
The primary goal of Toys for Tots is to
deliver, through a new toy at Christmas,
a message of hope to less fortunate
youngsters that will assist them in becoming
resonsible, productive, patriotic citizens.
A History of Giving
In 1987, forty years after the Marine Corps
began sponsoring Toys for Tots, the Nittany
Leathernecks conducted their first campaign
in Centre County. The Nittany Leathernecks
is a local community service organization
comprised of active and retired Marines.
Since its inception, Toys for Tots has
become one of Centre County’s premier
charity events.
Today, more than 2,000 less-than-fortunate
children in Centre County are able to enjoy
the holiday season each year, regardless of
their religion or denomination.
Despite the tangible success of the program,
the Nittany Leathernecks want to emphasize
that their mission is not about toys –
it’s about hope.
2015 In Review
Over the course of four days, more than
1,000 volunteers wrapped and labeled toys
at the Penn Stater.
10,800 toys were collected, sorted, and
transported to distribution points. An
additional 7,400 were deliberately not
wrapped as they would be used by other
social service agencies after the holidays.
Our EventsOur Events
In addition to wrapping, sorting, and
distribution, we are fortunate enough to
have partnerships with organizations within
the community to promote and
collect for Toys for Tots.
In coordination with Penn State Athletics,
we offer promotions with both the
men’s and women’s basketball teams.
We designate one game each year
where discounted tickets are offered in
exchange for the donation of a new,
unwrapped toy.
Each summer we partner with the Nitany
Mall and WHVL-TV to host the Christmas in
July Car Show, a fundraising event
benefitting Toys for Tots.