Local agency supports Toys for Tots drive

First Team Real Estate -- Southern California’s largest

independent real estate company, is suporting the U.S. Marine Corps

Reserve’s 2002 Toys for Tots campaign by donating new and used toys

at all 24 of its Southern California offices.

“First Team Real Estate takes pride in the communities we serve,”

says Cameron Merage, president, founder and CEO of the Costa-Mesa

based firm. “We hope that the communities will join us in our efforts

to help those in need during the holiday season.”

Toy collection boxes will be available in every First Team Real

Estate office from Nov. 1 through Dec. 22. All the new and used toys

collected during that time will be delivered to children throughout

Southern California on December 23 and 24.

The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is the Marine

Corps’ premier community action program and the only charitable

endeavor within the Department of Defense which reaches outside the

military.

Since the program’s inception in 1947, the U.S. Marines have

distributed more than 272 million toys to 133 million children. In

2001, more than 6.9 million toys valued at $36.9 million were

collected and distributed.

Founded in 1976 by Cameron Merage, First Team Real Estate has

grown to become 19th in the nation in sales volume among independent

realty firms and 40th nationwide by Realtor Magazine. Visit

www.firstteam.com or call (714) 557-0771.