Goodyear first nicknamed one of its blimps the "Santa Claus Express" in 1927. The company is offering chances to win a ride on an airship during its Toys for Tots drive.
Two of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company's airship bases will host public events and give away rides on a Goodyear blimp during a campaign to collect donations for the Toys for Tots Foundation.
Goodyear is working with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve during open houses at the blimp bases in Akron, Ohio and Carson, Calif. At both events the public will have an opportunity to drive through the decorated blimp hangars, see a blimp and make a donation to Toys for Tots. Donations are not required, and the public is welcome to drive through the hanger just to enjoy the festivities.
The Ohio event is scheduled for noon to 10 p.m. on Dec. 5 and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Dec. 6 and 7. The Ohio event is drive-through only. The public will not be allowed to walk inside the hangar or on the base grounds. The airship base is located at 841 Wingfoot Lake Rd., Suffield, Ohio.
The California event is set for 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Dec. 6 and 7. Ground tours of the California event are offered, as are plenty of holiday decorations and music. Food trucks also will be on site. The airship base is located at 19200 S. Main St., Carson, Calif.
A third airship base, in Pompano Beach, Fla., is hosting a private holiday event this year.
"In the spirit of the holiday season, we are delighted to be working with the Marines to provide the venue for the community to support the Toys for Tots program," said Paul Fitzhenry, the company's senior vice president, global communications. "We have seen a tremendous response to this event in recent years and look forward to a great turnout this year."
Goodyear and the Marines will build on the success of previous open house and drive-through events at Goodyear's airship bases. Over the past three years, those efforts delivered more than 20,000 toys and $30,000 directly benefitting the Toys for Tots program, the company said.
This year, for the first time, both Goodyear airship bases are offering 25 lucky entrants a chance to win a ride for two on a blimp. An official entry form into the Goodyear Toys for Tots Blimp Ride Sweepstakes can be obtained either by visiting a participating Goodyear company-owned store in Ohio or a Just Tires store in California or by calling 800-344-9859. The form can be submitted at the event or via mail.
"The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation and the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve are grateful to Goodyear for making this event possible again," said retired Marine Major Bill Grein, vice president of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. "With the generous support of this community, there will be thousands of new toys fulfilling the Christmas dreams of less fortunate children who might not otherwise be remembered," he added.
All details are available online at www.goodyearblimp.com, on the Goodyear Blimp Facebook page and by calling 800-344-9859.
Goodyear first nicknamed one of its blimps the "Santa Claus Express" in 1927 to spread holiday cheer across the skies of America. Goodyear has a long history of charitable giving as well as community involvement, raising millions of dollars for worthy causes including the United Way, Support Our Troops and hundreds of local and national charities through its airship program.
Founded in 1948, it is the mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program to collect only new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December and to distribute these toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.
