The 75th anniversary of the Marine Corps' Toys for Tots Program is underway in the region, in coordination with WIBX's Keeler Toy Drive, benefiting kids in Oneida, Herkimer, Lewis and Madison Counties.
The annual Operation Sunshine Holiday Campaign hit its fundraising goal of $65,000 thanks to a big final push from Bill Keeler and his Keeler in the Morning radio show on WIBX 950 AM in Utica.
“This has been such an unprecedented year and to see it end the way it did today is very apropos,” Keeler said shortly after his show Wednesday. “Everyone has so much to worry about right now. I was really surprised how this thing just blew up today. A lot of people all really came together for this.”
Keller admitted he was initially afraid that morning’s show wouldn’t even happen, as he was home in isolation broadcasting from his basement studio while recovering from COVID.