04 Jan PRESS RELEASE: UPS, Safe America and Good360 To Deliver $400,000 in Donated Toys for Puerto Rico Children
(Atlanta, GA) – The Safe America Foundation is partnering with The UPS Foundation and Good360 to provide 15,000 toys for children in Puerto Rico during ‘3 Kings Day’ (also known as Epiphany) on Sunday, January 6. Three Kings Day is one of the most important holidays in Puerto Rico. Traditionally, the island, and most of the Latin world, mark the eve of January 6 as the day to exchange presents, culminating the 12 days of Christmas.
The ‘Toys for Puerto Rico’ project – part of the BE Safe America campaign – is in response to a request from Puerto Rico’s First Lady Beatriz Rosselló, who wants to give children dolls, board games and baseballs in areas still impacted by last fall’s Hurricane Maria.
“While Puerto Rico is making a comeback, there’s still a lack of disposable income for buying children’s presents,” noted Safe America President & CEO Len Pagano. “Thanks to The UPS Foundation, which connected us to the non-profit Good360 and its partner ASTRA (American Specialty Toy Retail Association), we’ll be making 15,000 kids happier on 3 Kings Sunday.”
Pagano noted that additional toys and items such as children’s books to enhance bi-lingual reading comprehension, are also being shipped to Puerto Rico. An additional 5,000 gifts – including sporting goods, board games and basketballs – are also being donated by the American Specialty Toy Retail Association.
In addition to transporting the toys to Puerto Rico, UPS Humanitarian Relief & Resilience Director Joe Ruiz added that UPS volunteers in Puerto Rico will also assist with local toy distribution as part of UPS’s on-going commitment to long-term recovery efforts in Puerto Rico.
Since Hurricane Maria, UPS has transported more than 100 in-kind shipments to assist recovery efforts in Puerto Rico.
“We’re pleased that we could respond to the Safe America request so quickly – and engage ASTRA,” said Good360 CEO Howard Sherman. “We look forward to helping involve more of our partners beyond this holiday season and to do other things that could be just as meaningful to families in Puerto Rico.”
Leading the distribution effort will be the Governor and First Lady of Puerto Rico, Ricardo and Beatriz Rosselló, whose genuine hope is to make the 3 Kings Sunday special for thousands of families. The eight cities where the toys will be distributed are Yabucoa, Cidra, Castaner-Lares, Moca, Yauco, San Juan, Vieques, and Culebra.
“The 3 Kings celebration is a beautiful holiday tradition in Puerto Rico that brings families together. It is a special occasion for children of all ages, especially those from communities facing economic hardship, to get toys and enjoy a full day of fun and merriment with their loved ones,” said First Lady Beatriz Rosselló. “On behalf of the people of Puerto Rico, I want to thank the Safe America Foundation, Good360, The UPS Foundation, ASTRA, as well as all the volunteers and donors that have made it possible to bring happiness to so many children on such a special day for them.”
Organizations or individuals interested in making donations to extend the initial gifts can contact Len Pagano at (770) 509-7958.
UPS, Good 360, ASTRA and Safe America partner with the Governor and First Lady of Puerto Rico to bring happiness to the children of Puerto Rico in time for their Three Kings Day celebration – here’s a look at the toys that arrived in the warehouse that will be distributed on January 6.
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