The Toys for Tots program has not bought any toys for kids the past two years, according to Robert De Muro of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
The Marine Reserves, who have been the organizers of the holiday drive to raise money and buy gifts for needy kids, collected almost $10 million since July 1982. They did this through a national mail fund-raising effort.
The former president of Toys for Tots is now being checked out to see if he used some of the money for himself, foundation officials and others connected with the investigation say.
The Better Business Bureau, a consumer watchdog group, said Toys for Tots violates six of its 22 standards for charitable organizations. A big part of the investigation will look at whether too much of the money collected was spent on management and fund-raising.
The foundation was formed by the Marine Reserves in September 1991 to give year-round support to the national holiday toy drive, which has been around for 46 years.
