Industry leaders announced today that the first annual Web Hosting Toy Drive 2004 has begun. The drive will raise money from sponsors in the community, and all proceeds will be donated to holiday charities.

Modeled around similar drives run by forum communities, the Web Hosting Toy Drive was originally intended as a community effort for the WebHostingTalk community. Organizers of the drive quickly realized a broader drive would be more successful.

“We realized the need to make the charity appeal to a broader number of participants,” said co-organizer Danny Garon.

Proceeds will be used to purchase toys that will be donated to the US Marine’s Toys for Tots program. The Web Hosting Toy Drive is not affiliated in any way with Toys for Tots. All remaining funds will be donated to other charities.

“The goal of the drive is to unite everyone in the hosting and design community so that we can provide toys for those which are not fortunate enough to have the funding to be able to provide toys for their children,” said founder Paul Mowery.

All donors will be listed on the official website of the drive, http://www.whtoydrive.com.

“Hopefully with the recognition we intend to give donors they will see this as both an opportunity to promote their company and to support those who are less fortunate. In the end the kids will win,” added Garon.

The drive has already been a success, and the organizers are feeling confident the drive will make a big difference.

“In our first three days we had already had a few hundred dollars in donations,” said Mowery. “I hope we will have the ability to help as many kids as we can, and seeing the feedback from the community I really think things are going to go well.”

To donate, you may send small items or money to:

Web Hosting Toy Drive

PO Box 1371
Ware, MA 01082

Or PayPal funds to donations@whtoydrive.com.

More information is available via http://www.whtoydrive.com