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‘Brave’ benefits Toys for Tots

  On Saturday, Dec. 8, at 4 p.m., kids of all ages and their families are invited to attend a special matinee of the popular Disney Pixar animated feature “Brave” at the Sebastiani Theatre.

 

  The only admission price will be a new, unwrapped toy for the Toys for Tots toy drive in the Sonoma Valley.

  Toys for Tots is the official charity of the United States Marine Corps Reserve, and Marines in dress blues will collect the toys at the door. Santa Claus is scheduled to make a guest appearance following the movie.

  Sonoma’s own John Lasseter is the chief creative officer at Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, and was the executive producer for “Brave.”

  This will be the fourth year in a row in which he has generously provided a special screening of one of Disney-Pixar’s films at the Sebastiani Theatre in support of the Toys for Tots campaign.

  Over the past three years, this event has featured the “Cars 2,” “Toy Story 2” and “Cars.” Each year this event has ranked as one of the top collectors of toys for the Toys for Tots campaign in the San Francisco Bay Area.

  In 1948, Walt Disney himself designed the Toys for Tots train logo, which is still used today.  Disney also designed the first Toys for Tots poster used to promote the nationwide program. 

  The event is co-sponsored by local Alain Pinel Realtors’ Kathleen Leonard, Roger Rhoten and the Sebastiani Theatre, and the Wine County Marines.

  Local Sonoma resident and former Marine Capt. Bob Leonard has been the coordinator for this event every year since 2009.

  He invites all who support Toys for Tots to attend the movie. “If you don’t have any children or grandchildren nearby to bring, it’s still OK to attend yourself and bring a toy for the Toys for Tots program,” Leonard said.

  If you are unable to attend the event, but would like to donate to Toys for Tots, you may drop off new, unwrapped toys at the Sonoma office of Alain Pineal Realtors located at 522 Broadway before Dec. 15. Alain Pinel Realtors is among the 23 Sonoma Valley businesses that have all volunteered as official 2012 toy drive campaign distribution points.

  The toy drive campaign is being locally coordinated and supported by the Wine Country Marines in conjunction with the Marine Corps League Detachment in Santa Rosa.

  Marine veteran and Sonoma resident Bryan Aubin is the 2012 Toys For Tots campaign chairman for the Sonoma Valley. His wife Shauna is the co-chairman.

  The local toy drive seeks to help Sonoma families first. If there is a local family in need, the Aubins will make sure they get them a toy.

  Those looking to suggest a local recipient should email their request to bryan.aubin@gmail.com or phone 933-8997.

  Toys not distributed to families in the Sonoma Valley are taken to Santa Rosa where the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve distributes them to the needy. Any remaining toys are then given to the Redwood Gospel Mission Homeless Shelter in Sonoma County.

For more information about the Toys for Tots Foundation, visit ToysForTots.org.