Jackson Bell
About 120 residents and business leaders took the day off from work
Thursday and braved the heat to tee off in the sixth annual Toys for
Tots Charity Golf Tournament at De Bell Municipal Golf Course.
The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Foundation, which
kicked off its annual toy drive with the tournament, raised $16,500
and a slew of holiday gifts from golfers. The event was co-sponsored
by JDC Security Systems Inc. and Toyota Motor Sales.
Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Adam Maciel said his unit, which is based
in Encino, collects and distributes toys to children from low-income
families throughout the San Fernando Valley each holiday season.
"Not everyone is as well off as other people, and kids don't
always understand why a friend might get a toy and they didn't,"
Maciel said. "We want to help those kids."
Roger Cusumano, president of the Cusumano Group and a three-year
participant in the tournament, said he is proud to be a part of the
event.
"A wonderful bunch of people put in a lot of time to help the less
fortunate," Cusumano said. "It shows that the spirit of giving is
really strong [in Burbank]."
First-time participant Clay Crolius agreed, saying that the point
of the tournament isn't winning.
"So far, [my game] has been up and down -- a few good shots here
and a few bad shots there," said Crolius, an accountant for Warner
Bros. "But we're all just out here to have fun and support a good
cause."
