I know it seems too early to be thinking about Christmas but I wanted to get this out now in hopes that any forum member(s) can make plans to be in Tucson on Saturday 12/10/11 to help us out. We need your help! Our hope is that this will inspire others to organize a HUMMER toy drive in your local communities and to serve as an open invitation and "call to action" to all forum members to join and help us by bringing yourselves and your HUMMERS to Tucson to participate in the HUMMER-only toy caravan to deliver all the collected toys to the Salvation Army and hang-around for a fun-filled day. Toy donations are always appreciated but not required - as we will have plenty of toys to stuff your HUMMER!

Our goal is to set a single-day donation record to the Salvation Army Tucson Christmas Toy drive and we need as many HUMMERS as possible to show up and drive in the caravan to deliver all the toys. Last year we collected and donated over 4,700 toys and over 200 new bikes to the Salvation Army. I will be posting more information in the coming weeks/months. Last year, several out-of-town members of 4 different HUMMER forums came to town to help us out. So, if any out-of-town forum members can make it this year, just let me know. Not only will you be overwhelmed by the "Spirit of Giving" but the giveaways (such as a free lunch at Sullivan's Steakhouse) & contest prizes are cool too! We also have reserved a block of rooms at an Embassy Suites nearby at a killer rate!

Check-out the event website at: www.stuffthehummers.com

Here is a video from last year's event:
Stuff the Hummers Toy Drive - Tucson 12.11.10 - YouTube

 

UPDATE: This past Saturday we started the toy shopping at Walmart for the Stuff the Hummers Toy Drive.


My niece Bella & our friend, Alex (a fellow Hummer owner).

We were able to buy approximately 500 toys-not a bad start with our first donation. People in line were very patient and thought we had some very spoiled children. Once they found out the toys this year will be donated in memory of Christina-Taylor Green (the 9-year girl who was killed on January 8 in the asassination attempt of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords) they asked for flyers and wanted to help. We are partnering with the Christina-Taylor Green Memorial Foundation for this this year's toy drive to benefit the Salvation Army. It was a fun afternoon.



Skylar (Bella's friend), Kristy (my sister-in-law), Bella, me, my wife Michele and our friend Alex.

All Hummer owners are invited to the toy drive not just Arizona Hummer owners. Thank you to the HF forum members for the kind words and support you have sent us on stuffthehummers.com.

 

UPDATE: This year we are partnering with the Christina-Taylor Green Memorial Foundation for this this year's toy drive to benefit the Salvation Army. All of the toys we collect will be donated in memory of Christina-Taylor Green (the 9-year girl who was killed on January 8 in the asassination attempt of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords).

My wife and I have a personal connection not only to this event, but also with the Green family, as Christina-Taylor's parents are very good friends of ours and also happen to be a part of the HUMMER community as well, as owners of a really cool H2 who will be driving his family in their H2 in the toy caravan.

This video was produced by ESPN for its E 60 show. It is a wonderful and touching tribute to the life of 9-year old, Christina-Taylor who lost her life way too early. I choke up every time I see this video but it is a great story about a little girl who had big dreams and it will serve to inspire any child (or even us adults) to think that anything is possible & that you can do anything you put your mind to. Her death - or I should say her life - has had and will continue to have a profound effect on and be a source of inspiration to many people for years to come. Hopefully, this video will put a little perspective on why we are committed to this event and would openly invite and welcome any forum member who can come to Tucson with their HUMMER & help us out and be a part of the toy caravan and this special event.

E:60 Angel in the Outfield - A Look Back at the Life of Christina-Taylor Green - YouTube

 

 

Ok, it's getting close to crunch time...who needs a hotel room for next weekend?

So far, we have 51 HUMMERS signed-up & participating in the toy drive caravan next Saturday (including 4 members of this forum who are driving in from out of Tucson to participate).

It's safe to say that this will be this year's largest HUMMER Christmas toy drive caravan in the US (if not the world)!! In addition to the toy drive, we will be having a classic car and hot-rod car show that will be judged by 3 celebrity judges from major league baseball, the NBA & national championship college softball. After the HUMMERS deliver the toys to the Salvation Army, we will all go back & party at Sullivan's Steakhouse where all HUMMER owners will get a free lunch and a chance to win some great prizes!

So if you want to be a part of HUMMER history, come join us in Tucson next Saturday. BTW, there is a super nice prize for the HUMMER driver who comes the farthest away to participate in the toy drive (the "Santa Award") - a weekend stay at the Westin La Paloma Resort (w/ $100 of resort food & beverage included)!