Each holiday season, Disney teams up with the Marine Toys for Tots Program to bring toys and joy to kids in need. For one United States Marine Sergeant and his Disney family, supporting this program is a tradition.
“My dad has worked for Disney for as long as I can remember,” Sgt. Muscaro said. “We were a Disney family growing up. When I first started working on Toys for Tots and saw how involved Disney was, it just felt like this full-circle moment.”
Sgt. Muscaro’s dad, Kent, is a director of finance at Walt Disney World. He was inspired to get even more involved with the Disney Ultimate Toy Drive after seeing the work both his son and his fellow cast members were doing to bring holiday happiness to Central Florida families.
“I’m very proud,” said Kent, tearing up. “When I see him taking on these responsibilities – not only with Toys for Tots, but also as a leader in the Marines – I’m just very proud.”
Kent’s father was also a Marine, and he passed down the stories of his dad’s service to his son. Those stories inspired Sgt. Muscaro to enlist, which led to his role with Toys for Tots.
“My dad and I really bonded over stories about my grandpa and his time in the Marines,” Sgt. Muscaro said. “Family is important, and I love Toys for Tots because I like helping the families in our community. It’s one of my favorite parts about being at the station that I’m at; I get to do this every year.”
Sgt. Muscaro is a warehouse manager with Toys for Tots and oversees donations across Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties, making sure all the toys are properly counted, sorted and ready to be distributed to families ahead of Christmas Day.
Many of the donated toys come from Disney World cast members and visiting guests as part of the Disney Ultimate Toy Drive. This year, Disney World cast members and guests donated nearly 20,000 toys – and counting! – in Central Florida. It’s a point of pride for Kent, who says Disney cast members are some of the most generous people he’s ever known.
“The volume of toys that they give is unbelievable,” Kent said. “Not only that, but there are Disney VoluntEARS who’ve been involved in Toys for Tots for years, and they come with a lot of experience and a big heart to give back to the community.”
Disney cast members have volunteered with Toys for Tots for more than 75 years, dating back to Walt Disney himself. He and his animators personally designed the iconic Toys for Tots train logo, displayed on toy collection boxes all over the United States today.
If you’d like to join Disney, the Marines and the Muscaro family in delivering the gift of happiness to families across the country this holiday season, there’s still plenty of time to get involved in the Disney Ultimate Toy Drive! As you’re shopping for presents online, you can choose a toy to donate to Toys for Tots on DisneyStore.com through December 24.
As they serve our country – and our Central Florida community through Toys for Tots – we thank our friends and family in the United States Marine Corps for all they do and wish them a very happy holiday season!