OREANDA-NEWS. CenturyLink, Inc. (NYSE: CTL) is partnering with Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders in support of the CenturyLink Mile High United Way's toy drive and annual holiday party. During the month of November, CenturyLink's goal is to collect 3,000 toys for the Mile High United Way's annual Children's Holiday Party, which takes place Dec. 12.
"We are so excited to be partnering with CenturyLink and Emmanuel Sanders for the Mile High United Way Children's Holiday Party. CenturyLink has been an amazing community partner, especially with our 2-1-1 Help Center. CenturyLink's presence in our community, coupled with Sanders' personal support of our Toy Drive, will ensure families and children will have something special to look forward to this holiday season," said Christine Benero, president and CEO of Mile High United Way.

CenturyLink entered into a partnership with Mile High United Way in 2014 to help fund the 2-1-1 Help Center in the United Way's new facility. The CenturyLink Mile High United Way 2-1-1 Help Center is a free and confidential community referral service that in 2014, connected nearly 100,000 callers with resources that provide food, shelter, rent assistance, clothing, child care options and other types of community assistance. The 2-1-1 Help Center averages approximately 14,000 calls during the holiday months and one of the most common needs is toys for children.

The annual Children's Holiday Party gives underprivileged families a true holiday experience, including the opportunity to select gifts for their children. In many cases, the toys provided through this effort are the only presents these children will receive. The party serves several hundred families each year and relies heavily on donations from the community.

"We are proud to support the Mile High United Way through financial contributions, volunteerism, board of director participation and through our partnership with Emmanuel Sanders," said Rich Karlis, director of sponsorships for CenturyLink. "We are pleased to be able to give back to our community this holiday season by assisting with the toy drive and supporting the Children's Holiday Party, making what can be a difficult time financially for many families one of joy and celebration."

"I look forward to helping local families and children in need this holiday season," said Sanders. "I hope my participation encourages fans and community members to support them through CenturyLink's toy drive for the Mile High United Way, an organization that helps make our community stronger as well as a better place to live and work. Together, we can create a memorable celebration for these families and children."

Toy donations should be appropriate for children ages birth to 12 years of age, should be new and valued at a minimum of $15 per item. The toys will be distributed at the annual Children's Holiday Party at Mile High United Way in Denver, where families will gather and enjoy holiday festivities including cookie decorating, craft making, face painting, story time and pictures with Santa.

Toys may be dropped off until Dec. 1 at the following CenturyLink retail store locations:

  • 16th Street Mall (Denver): 1600 Stout St., Suite 102
  • Arvada: 5324 Wadsworth Blvd.
  • Aurora: 14200 E. Alameda Ave., KI12
  • Boulder: 1805 29th St., Unit 1136
  • Highlands Ranch: 9370 S. Colorado Blvd., Unit A-08
  • Orchard Town Center (Westminster): 14456 Delaware St., Suite 200
  • Parker: 11290 S. Twenty Mile Rd.