Next week, the Illinois Lottery is gifting instant fun and cheer to hundreds of Illinois families by bringing their second annual Holiday Toy Drive to Springfield and Chicago to benefit the Boys & Girls Club Alliance of Illinois.
To inspire the holiday giving spirit, participants who donate a new, unwrapped toy will be gifted one Illinois Lottery Holiday Instant Ticket and two Fast Play Scan-N-Play Tickets inside a festive holiday envelope. Participants may receive a maximum of five envelopes — one for each toy donated — for a total value of $25 in Illinois Lottery tickets.
Those looking to donate can do so at three participating retail stores at the following locations in the Springfield and Chicagoland area:
● Thursday, December 8 – County Market, 1903 W. Monroe St. in Springfield, IL from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
● Saturday, December 10 – Mariano’s Oak Lawn, 11000 S. Cicero Ave. in Oak Lawn from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
● Saturday, December 10 – Mariano’s Bronzeville, 3857 S. Martin Luther King Dr. in Chicago from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
“Thanks to the generosity of Chicagoans last year, the Illinois Lottery donated nearly 600 toys to the Boys & Girls Clubs in Chicago,” said Harold Mays, Illinois Lottery Director. “With this year’s toy drive, we will expand our effort to deliver smiles and joy to hundreds of children in Chicago and Springfield who need it most this holiday season.”
The annual toy drive is an extension of Illinois Lottery’s continued partnership with the Boys and Girls Club’s afterschool program, Power Hour, and another example of the Illinois Lottery’s commitment to education and communities throughout the State of Illinois.
“The support of the Illinois Lottery and their generosity is felt across our entire organization and youth membership,” said Tiffany Mathis, CEO and Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Illinois. “As one of the largest, non-metro, Boys & Girls Club organizations in Illinois, we know how important developing strong corporate and community partnerships are, and we are grateful for the continued support of the Illinois Lottery especially during this holiday season.”
Local Springfield radio stations, WNNS and WQLZ, will be broadcasting live at the County Market location, and iHeart Media stations, KISS-FM and WGCI, will power the Chicago Mariano’s Oak Lawn and Bronzeville toy drives.
The Illinois Lottery reminds all players that lottery games are not for kids — never give a lottery ticket to a minor. For more information on how to play lottery games responsibly, please visit IllinoisLottery.com.
