runDisney Celebrated Charity Spotlight: Toys for Tots

Toys for Tots is the celebrated charity of the 2023 runDisney Virtual 12Ks of Christmas.

Hello everyone! My name is Corey Smith, and I am part of the Pasco County, FL Toys for Tots team. I have been heavily involved with Toys for Tots for the past 14 years by managing the distribution logistics for multiple sites within Pasco County. I will be running my second marathon this year and I am very excited to share my story with you.

My mom, Elaine Smith, was who introduced me and helped start my involvement with Toys for Tots. During my childhood, she would always assist our local coordinator with Toys for Tots by letting him use her facility as a distribution center. The iconic Toys for Tots red and white boxes were displayed around town. However, the impact of the toys for children in need was not realized until I participated in my first Toy Distribution Day. That Toy Distribution Day in 2009 would become one of the greatest opportunities that I would ever partake in.

Volunteering with the Toys for Tots program for the past 14 years has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Each year, over 15,000 children in Pasco County, FL receive toys that bring an abundance of joy and smiles for families on Christmas Day. This is only made possible by the generous contributions by businesses, the community, long-standing partnerships, and the volunteer efforts of so many amazing individuals. If you have ever considered donating or volunteering for Toys for Tots, I strongly encourage it. The families that receive these toys are so appreciative and thankful of the support during their hardship.

I started running during 2021 to exercise during the COVID-19 pandemic. I was active but never got into running to exercise. During the first couple of months, I was listening to a podcast for first time runners, and he mentioned about running the Disney Marathon. After hearing about how he trained and how he was able to complete it as a first-time runner, I immediately thought “Well, if he can do it, so can I”. I rushed home and looked up how to sign up for the 2022 Disney Marathon only to find out I missed the registration by a day. So, for the next year and half, I trained week in and week out for the 2023 Disney Marathon, which I completed in 6 hours, 44 minutes. Lots of emotions were felt and I was so proud of myself for setting and completing a long-term goal.

The 2024 Walt Disney World Marathon will be my second marathon and I will be fundraising for Toys for Tots. I will have a QR code to donate on my racing shirt and will be looking for donations from members of the community. Toys for Tots is an incredible organization, and I am so grateful for all the opportunities they have afforded me over the years.

I am so excited to be able to participate and I can’t wait to see everyone at the finish line!