During our trip to the AWFS Fair, we were introduced to a self-taught woodworker, Ed Thiessen, who is involved with Toys 4 Smiles, a wooden toy making charitable foundation out of Las Vegas. But the story goes deeper than just this one woodworking charity.
You can tell Ed is proud to be part of such a fine organization during our interview with him at the AWFS Fair in Las Vegas:
Before Toys 4 Smiles was founded, this toy making organization was originally part of “The Happy Factory” home woodshop created by the late Charles Cooley from Cedar City, Utah. I would like to dedicate this blog effort in remembrance of Charlie and all that he did to put a smile into the hearts of others, especially children.
Charlie and Donna believed that miracles happen when people willingly serve others. The Cooley’s became aware that many children have never had a toy, so they formulated their motto,“We may not be able to make a toy for every child in the world that needs one–but we’re going to try!”
They first began by making a few hundred wooden toys and gave them away to a children’s medical center. The toys were such a hit that the word spread rapidly, and before they knew it they were making and donating more hand created wooden toys to other hospitals, crisis centers, churches, and Ronald MacDonald House Charities worldwide.
“The Happy Factory” was thusly named because of the happiness it brings to the children who receive the wooden toys, and for the personal joy it brought to the Cooley’s for making and sharing the toys. In the process, they have learned that toys are not simply playthings, but tools that help unlock a child’s ability to think and to cope with the world around them. What started as a hobby has turned into a full time labor of love. Charlie’s legacy will continue to live on, both at The Happy Factory and at Toys 4 Smiles.
The idea to give back to the Las Vegas community was started by Rex Doty in 2005 with a group of Faith Lutheran Church members that worked on a campaign to reach out to the people in their area. Rex was guided by one of the other members to watch a new TV series called “Three Wishes” starring Amy Grant to get some possible ideas. The premise of this series was to go to various cities and grant three people one wish each. After watching the second episode in the series about a wish from a young girl to have help keeping her parents “Happy Factory” running, Rex was overwhelmed with emotion, and knew what he wanted to do. He went to the Happy Factory website, and contacted Charlie Cooley.
Starting in a Delwebb Retirement Community workshop using 5 individual woodshop garages in 2006, Rex became the manager of a “Happy Factory” in Las Vegas, starting with 3 helpers (who are still with him today), and a goal of 300-500 wooden toys to make per year. Rex said, “The toy cars and trucks had 25 miles on them before giving them away!”
The program has gradually grown since then, and today Rex has over 50 volunteers, and a new building donated by Equus Investment Group of Manhattan, California. Together he and his volunteers now under one roof have created over 18,000 toys per year. That’s 90,000 toys since the 501 c 3 non-profit organization has formed. In 2010, the organization changed their name and established the “Toys 4 Smiles” Foundation, and is currently the only non-profit organization in Las Vegas that manufactures and donates items to their clients.
Enjoy this Toys 4 Smiles video provided by Cool in Vegas featuring Molly Sullivan:
Information on all wood, tools, and supply donors to Toys 4 Smiles can be found HERE.
Rex commented that one of their donors, Master Brand Cabinets, “guaranteed the Toys 4 Smiles foundation that they would never run out of wood to build their toys.” Master Brand Cabinets donates semi-trailer loads of free scrap wood to back up that promise. Additionally, Rex stated,“As much joy as we get out of giving the toys to children, there are relationships that are built that never would have been created if the organization had not formed.”
Rex would like to send out a challenge, “To anyone willing to start a similar program for children in their community”, commenting, “There is a huge reward that you personally receive through knowing that you have helped a child while also creating lifetime relationships.” Rex’s and Toys 4 Smiles goal is “To let children, adults and communities realize there is somebody out there that they do not know that cares about them, and is willing to help make life a little bit better.
Click here for the Toys 4 Smiles client web page to see all who are donated to.
