Maria Jones is gearing up to host her annual Holly Toy Drive fundraiser.
This is the 11th year Jones will be hosting the aerobathon and Christmas toy drive.
Participants are asked to bring an unwrapped gift or food donation for children ages four to 17 to the Masaryk-Cowan Community Centre, 220 Cowan Ave., Sunday, Dec. 7 between 10 a.m. and noon.
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Toys and proceeds collected this year will be donated to the Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club, and all City of Toronto community centres will be accepting donations on that day.
The fundraiser is in memory of Maria’s 10-year-old daughter Holly Jones, who was abducted after walking a friend home. She was last seen in the Perth Avenue and Bloor Street West area in May 2003 and, a month later, a 35-year-old software developer, who lived in the neighbourhood, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Pleading guilty, Holly’s killer received an automatic life sentence without a chance of parole for 25 years.
Maria Jones received an outpouring of sympathy and support in the years since her daughter’s death and decided to start the fundraiser in memory of Holly and all the lives she touched.
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