The Connecticut Lottery Corporation Hosts 10th Annual “Give a Child a Toy, Not a Ticket” Virtual Holiday Toy Drive to Benefit Connecticut Children’s, November 20 – December 31

Wallingford, CT / November 17, 2023 – The Connecticut Lottery Corporation (CLC) will host its 10th Annual “Give a Child a Toy, Not a Ticket” Holiday Toy Drive from November 20, through December 31, 2023, to help bring joy to kids spending the holidays at Connecticut Children’s, while also spreading the Responsible Gambling message that lottery tickets are not suitable gifts for children. This year’s partners include Connecticut Children’s, iHeartRadio, and FOX61/CW20.

“Research shows that early gambling experiences are a risk factor for later problem gambling, and Connecticut Lottery’s goal each year is to use the holidays to highlight that while lottery tickets make great gifts for adults, they are not suitable for those under 18,” said Greg Smith, President & CEO, CLC. “We thank all of our partners for helping us to spread this message and assisting us with the virtual toy drive that will help bring comfort to Connecticut Children’s patients during the holidays and all year long.”

Your donation in support of the virtual toy drive will help purchase gifts for patients, stock play rooms and provide activities to celebrate winter holidays. When you support our Virtual Toy Drive with a monetary gift, you give Connecticut Children’s the flexibility to purchase items based on the ages and interests of current patients. To make a donation to the “Give a Child a Toy, Not a Ticket” holiday toy drive for Connecticut Children’s visit give.connecticutchildrens.org/ctlottery.

Over the last 10 years, the CLC donated more than 30,000 toys to Connecticut Children’s. The hospital uses toys to engage, distract and motivate patients, so having the right items is critically important. In total, the yearly need for donated toys is great—upwards of 80,000—ranging from a simple deck of cards or matchbox car, to the more substantial, tablets and video games.

“The Connecticut Lottery Virtual Toy Drive helps make spirits bright at Connecticut Children’s,” said David Kinahan, President of Connecticut Children’s Foundation. “We are grateful for the way they inspire generosity from the community, which benefits our patients all year long.”

Since 2008, the CLC has partnered with the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors at McGill University and the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) during the holidays to promote the message that lottery tickets are not suitable gifts for children.

If you or someone you know is affected by a gambling problem, please call the CT Council on Problem Gambling’s Helpline at 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org for more information.