A holiday tradition that gathers Christmas toys for children and raises money for Atlanta-area charities returns Thursday, supported by a wide circle of community partners, including a restaurant, car dealer, nonprofit leaders, and two young entrepreneurs preparing to open a new eatery.
The Mark Carroll and Friends Annual Toy Drive Party will be held from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Thursday at The Sinclair in the Prado in Sandy Springs.
Tickets are $100, and guests are asked to arrive with a toy in hand. Complimentary food and hors d’oeuvres from Six Feet Under, an open bar, and a live auction featuring BMWs from Atlanta-area dealerships, among other items, are included in the festivities, Carroll.
Carroll said the event gives away much more than toys to children. Proceeds support coats, blankets, meals, and financial assistance for churches and nonprofit groups that help senior citizens, people experiencing homelessness, and others facing hardship.
Carroll’s event was born during a dinner party in 2003, he said, and grew over the years, inspiring him to form the charity in 2012. But his motivation to help people dates back to Carroll’s teen years, watching his mother navigate single parenthood after his parents’ divorce.
“I said if I am ever in a position to help single families, I am going to do it,” he said.
Carroll is hoping to have the toys distributed to children at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Grady Hospital, and within the Atlanta Public School system, he added.
In addition to toy donations at the upcoming gala, Le’Dor Milteer, founder of the nonprofit Empowerment Workshop, coordinated in-kind contributions through Toys for Tots, including bicycles, helmets, skates, dolls, and more.
Milteer said she believes more families are struggling this year due to fears of encounters with ICE and the ripple effects of the recent government shutdown.
“I think there are a lot of people who are not taking part in traditional holiday festivals and activities,” she said. “I feel like there are a lot of broken hearts. So I think it’s really important to help the helpers. I like being a helper.”
To further support Carroll’s toy collection effort, Milteer enlisted Lucas Blake and Darryl Clemons to host a toy drive at their future Mediterranean restaurant, Arabian, which is set to open in February. The childhood friends opened up their Sandy Springs space on Sunday for the toy collection. Clemons, 28, is a Grammy-nominated rap producer, and Blake, 30, comes from a family of entrepreneurs.
Local residents flowed in Arabian over a two-hour period, piling unwrapped toys beneath a Christmas tree. The contributions will specifically benefit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta — a place that shaped both Blake’s and Clemons’ lives in profound ways.
Both men had daughters treated at CHOA in 2023, an emotional journey that tested them as new fathers.
Blake’s daughter, Salome Butris, was born prematurely at Northside Hospital and transferred to CHOA, where she spent five months in the neonatal intensive care unit.
“She is amazing,” Blake said. “It’s crazy how well she is doing now. She is so, so smart.”
He credits CHOA: “They’re totally responsible for your child around the clock. They were so nice and comforting, and most importantly, they did their job. They were on top of any issues.”
Clemons’ daughter, Yuri, was born with Trisomy 18, a rare genetic disorder that is often fatal. She lived to be two and passed away last September.
“CHOA is where I spent two years of my life. I know that place so well,” Clemons said. “She beat the odds. We didn’t know how long she would have.”
Through Yuri, Clemons said he learned the meaning of acceptance and gratitude. “Her life taught me how to be a better father, a better man.”
He created a foundation called 18 Wishes in her honor and delivered gifts to children at CHOA last Christmas season.
“You want to be there 24/7,” he said, referring to Yuri’s visits to the Technology-dependent Intensive Care Unit. “But the nurses would tell us, ‘Go home if you need to, or take the trip — we’re here, and we will call you.’ CHOA is an amazing hospital.”
Their resilience and gratitude, and the community support, reflect the spirit behind Carroll’s event, which has grown beyond a single night of giving.
Carroll said the network supporting this year’s toy drive shows that even small acts of kindness can lighten the weight families carry during the holidays. He wants the gala to continue to remind people that generosity has a way of multiplying.
“This is what the season is about,” he said. “People helping people. That’s all it is.”
Visit the nonprofit website for tickets to the event and more information.
So moved by how Mark and friends successfully organized the drive again. Lucas and Darryl’s stories are touching. Thanks for bringing hope!
The gala at The Sinclair was amazing! So glad I brought a toy. Seeing the kids’ smiles from the Dec 16th distribution made it all worth it.