MILTON, Ont. — Every year at about this time, a jolly man delivers toys to children all over the world. He’s known by many names: Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, Pere Noel, and, in Milton, Ontario, anyway, Tiger Jeet Singh. The wrestling legend teamed up once again with Milton businessman Troy Newton, as the Tiger Jeet Singh Foundation presented Troy’s Toy Drive on Monday, collecting toys to be delivered to needy children in support of The Salvation Army, Hospital for Sick Children, McMaster Children’s Hospital and Halton’s Women Place.
Tiger Jeet Singh and Tiger Ali Singh, and organizer Troy Newton, are surrounded by toys on Monday morning.
Tiger Jeet and his son, former WWE superstar Tiger Ali Singh, and Walter Gretzky (Wayne’s father) , were some of the celebrities on hand for the toy drive, named for Newton, who Tiger Ali calls his “brother from another mother.” Troy’s Diner in the lobby of Milton’s Best Western Inn was packed with members of the local community, media, celebrities, and invited guests, who dropped off donations in the form of toys, cosmetics, packaged food, cash, and other essentials to help ensure that no child goes without a present this Christmas.
Those in attendance enjoyed a full breakfast during the multi-cultural festivities, which included an old-time brass band playing Christmas carols, followed by a traditional Chinese Dragon Dance, and some Indian pop singers. A silent auction was also held, with prizes ranging from Nintendo Wii systems, autographed hockey jerseys and sports memorabilia, and other prizes donated from corporate sponsors such as Best Buy.
Between rushing round to pose for pictures or an interview with CITY-TV’s Jennifer Valentyne, and helping to load the donations onto one of the trailers on hand, Newton was only able to spare a few seconds with SLAM! Wrestling, noting that he hopes that everyone has a very happy holiday season, and that “we hope to see you next year for the fourth one.”
Last last week, some of the toys were delivered by the Singhs to the McMaster Children’s Hospital.
UPDATE: This year’s campaign raised an amazing $100,000 – doubling the amounts from the two previous years.
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