Kids & Family
Veteran's Spirit Lives on through 'Tom's Toys for Tots'
Tom's Toys for Tots holiday toy drive is held in honor of fallen veteran Tom Boyle, of Barrington, who died in Afghanistan in 2012 before he could personally deliver toys to a needy child he had befriended.
Four months after Barrington veteran Tom Boyle was killed in June 2012 while working as a security contractor in Afghanistan, one of his final acts of kindness was finally realized—the delivery of toys to a little Afghan girl.
His wife, Pauline, had just returned from mailing a doll and teddy bear to her husband to give to the child when she learned of his death. The special delivery was then lost for several months, only to miraculously reappear.
The spirit of Tom's caring nature lives on through a holiday toy drive, which Pauline got underway last year with the aid of the Sanfilippo Foundation, which was created by the Sanfilippo family, whose Barrington Hills estate includes a renowned collection of restored antique music machines.
At Pauline's request, the Sanfilippo family, which opens its private estate to charities to hold fundraisers, held a toy drive during the foundation's Christmas concerts last year.
"We were very successful," said Pauline.
Once again, the Sanfilippo Foundation will hold the Tom Boyle-inspired toy drive at this year's concerts. The donations will benefit Chicago's Mercy Home for Boys & Girls.
Tom's Toys for Tots
Don't have a concert ticket? No worries. Residents can drop toys off at donation boxes located at the Barrington Hills Police Department at 112 Algonquin Rd., and Cuba Township offices at 28000 W. Cuba Rd., in Barrington.
Monetary donations can be mailed directly to Mercy Home for Boys & Girls, 1140 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60607, in honor of Tom Boyle.
Pauline said her husband, a Marine and a two-tour veteran of Vietnam who earned the Cross of Gallantry, would approve of her efforts to carry on his kindness.
"I think he would be thrilled. Wherever he went, he'd make sure a child benefitted."
Not only was Tom a decorated veteran, he was a Chicago police officer for 30 years. Upon retirement, Tom worked for a private detective agency and a security contractor overseas. He was 62 when he died in Afghanastan on June 19, 2012.
Read more about Tom Boyle on Patch:
Fallen Marine's Gifts Delivered to Afghan Girl
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