Bandai America Kicks Off the Holiday Season With Toys for Tots’ First Donation

World’s Third Largest Toy Company Brings Holiday Cheer to Los Angeles Area Kids

CYPRESS, Calif., October 28, 2004 – Demonstrating that it’s never too early to begin celebrating the holiday gift giving season, Bandai America Incorporated delivered today its first truckload of toys to the Discovery Charter Prep School in Pacoima, CA, a local donation center of the annual U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Campaign. As a national corporate sponsor of Toys for Tots since 1995, Bandai America has provided the largest toy donation the previous two years of the campaign, ensuring that thousands of children locally and across the country have toys to unwrap during the holidays.

Hundreds of students ranging from 4-16 years old from Discovery Charter Prep School were on hand to greet the Marines as they made the delivery of Bandai America toys. The students received Power Rangers DinoThunder, Gundam and Teen Titans action figures for the boys, as well as Strawberry Shortcake scented dolls and T*neez poseable figures for the girls.

“Toys not only bring a little more holiday cheer to children during the holidays, they help young kids learn and grow through play,” said Bill Beebe, senior vice president, sales and marketing for Bandai America Incorporated. “Bandai is proud to once again contribute to the meaningful work of the U.S. Marine Corps. Reserve and the Toys for Toys campaign.”

“We appreciate the support Bandai America has provided to the campaign year after year,” said Major William Grein, U.S. Marine Corp (Ret) and vice president of Toys for Tots. “Bandai America’s significant contributions and leadership over the past 14 years have been instrumental in our continued success.”

About Toys for Tots
The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is now in its 57th year. Toys for Tots began in 1947, when Major William L. (Bill) Hendricks, USMCR and a handful of Marine Reservists in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children on Christmas Eve. Today, Toys for Tots is the Marine Corps’ premier community action program and one of the nation’s flagship Christmas charitable causes. Toys for Tots is the only charitable endeavor within the Department of Defense which reaches outside the military establishment to give something back to the communities from which our nation draws the young men and women who wear the uniforms of the armed services of the United States.

About Bandai America Incorporated
Bandai America Incorporated is a subsidiary of Bandai Co. Ltd., the third largest toy company in the world, with 38 subsidiaries in 13 countries worldwide. Global interests include toys and children’s entertainment, video game software, multimedia, music, full-length feature films, vending machines, trading cards, candies and licensed apparel. Bandai America Incorporated is the master toy licensee of some of the most popular properties and brands in children’s toys and entertainment, including the Power Rangers, Gundam, Teen Titans, Strawberry Shortcake and Tamagotchi product lines. Bandai America is headquartered in Cypress, California and company information is available at www.Bandai.com.