Productivity Corner

Guardian Toy Run
Good morning. I hope this finds you all doing well and enjoying the “Fall” weather!

I am starting an annual event called the Guardian Toy Run. A Guardian ad Litem (GAL) is appointed by the court as an advocate for the child. Most of these children have been removed from their homes because of alleged abuse, abandonment or neglect. The GAL becomes familiar with the child and the child’s case and makes recommendations to the court to help ensure a safe, caring, stable, and permanent environment.

The Guardian Toy Run is being established to help Guardians provide toys for the children they advocate for. Some of these children are in group homes, foster homes or transitional homes. Many times, they do not receive much for Christmas.

The toys that are collected from this drive will be delivered to the children by their personal GAL. This is especially important as the GAL is one of the only stable people involved in their life, and for some, the only toy they receive. Currently, the Guardian ad Litem Toy Coset does not receive enough donations to supply a toy to each child. This drive will help meet this need and fill the Toy Closet.

This cause is especially important to me, as my father, Jay Taylor, is a GAL and has been supporting children in our community for over 13 years. I look forward to the first annual Guardian Toy Run and hope that it will serve as a launchpad for filling the GAL Toy Closet for years to come. I know this event will help bring smiles to faces of children in very difficult situations. The toys collected during this event will be distributed throughout Hillsborough County. After minimal expenses, all proceeds collected will go towards purchasing additional gifts for donation to the GAL Toy Closet.

This event will start at Tampa PC Networks on Boyette and end with a post ride party at Brandon Business Machines on Robertson with food provided by Buffalo Wild Wings.

Now you are all probably saying, “What a great idea, how can I help?”. Here is how you can help:

Join us for the event by signing up and bringing a toy.
Forward this message to everyone you know.
Consider supporting the event with a monetary donation or a toy.
Donate a door prize.
Donate items to put into goodie bags.
Add this event to any community calendars that you have.
Add my account to your Linked In and Twitter pages.

The website for this event is http://www.guardiantoyrun.org. Once there you can download the registration form, flyer, and a coupon to Learning Express for this event.

Linked In : http://www.linkedin.com/in/btaylortbos
Twitter ID: http://twitter.com/btaylortbos.
Company Page: http://www.linkedin.com/company/guardian-toy-run.

I appreciate your help and support with this event.

Blessings,
Bryan Taylor
Guardian Toy Run
813-400-0448
mailto:btaylor@guardiantoyrun.org