After a fundraising and public relations disaster in 1993, the award-winning Marine Toys for Tots Foundation regrouped and came back stronger than ever.

By Melissa Busch

In 1993, the founder of Toys for Tots’ national fundraising arm — the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation — was accused of stealing millions of dollars from the charity. It also was discovered that most of the money the foundation raised that year was used to cover expenses rather than to fund its actual mission. The scandal led donors to stop giving — both toys and dollars.