Airport partners team up for record-breaking Toys for Tots collection

Every year, employees from Tampa International Airport and many of TPA’s partner organizations join forces to collect gifts for the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program, benefiting children throughout the Tampa Bay area. 

The collection has grown steadily over the past 13 years, but this year set a new all-time record thanks to overwhelming generosity from the community and support from local philanthropist Vick Tipnes, who partnered with fixed-base operator Sheltair to organize a massive toy drive out of one of the airport’s hangars, resulting in nearly 20,000 toys collected. 

Signature Aviation also made a major contribution, donating $30,000 to the cause. On Sunday, airport employees went on a festive toy shopping spree ahead of Monday’s big sendoff. 

Employees from the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, which operates Tampa International Airport, kicked off their efforts early with a series of fundraisers— including the airport’s annual Chili Cook-Off — before hitting store aisles to purchase thousands of toys for local children.
 

Other airport partners — including Acousti, APG, Austin Industries, The Beck Group, Hensel Phelps, Kimmins Contracting, Manhattan Construction, The Middlesex Corporation, MILBURN Demolition, and tenants of the SkyCenter One office building — also contributed, adding to the impressive TPA total. 

This year’s donations were gathered at the airport’s main office building, where the Marine Corps Reserve arrived to load up three full truckloads of toys bound for local families.

Last year, Tampa International Airport and its partners received the Commander’s Award for collecting more toys than any other organization in the Tampa Bay area. 

Since 2013, TPA employees and airport business partners have donated more than 66,000 toys and hundreds of bicycles to support the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program, helping bring holiday joy to families throughout Tampa Bay.