By Jami Palmer
Hundreds of Utah children will benefit from over $66,000 worth of Toys R Us toys to complete a nationwide antitrust settlement.
Scooters, skateboards, Barbie dolls, and an array of other toys were delivered to seven Utah agencies focused on helping children.
Utah Attorney Mark Shurtleff helped deliver the toys to the organizations that help needy children.
'It''s just awesome to go through all these boxes and boxes of toys and think about what it will mean to the kids,' Shurtleff said in a news release.
In 1997, Utah filed a lawsuit, along with 43 other states, claiming Toys R Us prevented manufacturers from selling to discount stores.
The case was settled in 1999 as Toys R Us agreed to pay $40.5 million. Each of the states participating in the suit was given a share dependant upon rough sales and a weighted scale.
Utah''s share included approximately $243,000 in toys over a three-year period, almost $100,000 in cash and $25,000 in attorney fees, said Paul Murphy, director of communications for the Utah Attorney General''s office.
Charities selected to receive the toys were chosen by Assistant Attorney General Wayne Klein.
Klein has been involved since the very beginning of the lawsuit, settlement and the distribution of all the toys.
'This has been a great way to take a naughty business practice and turn it into something nice for thousands of deserving children,' Klein said.
Utah agencies receiving a percentage of the settlement include the Utah Division of Child and Family Services, Toys for Tots, Family Support Centers, Domestic Violence Shelters, Childrens Justice Centers, Primary Children''s Medical Center and the Shriners Hospital for Children.
Klein said these seven charities were selected to receive gifts starting in 1999 based upon the broad range of individuals they serve.
The toys were picked up by each of the agencies on Monday and hauled to their various facilities for distribution to children.
Each agency received a certain percentage of the settlement; however, some agencies that needed more of the donation were given more, Murphy said.
Klein said the agencies will use most of the toys for Christmas, but they do not have to. Some of the agencies that have children come to them for help and support year-round may save some items.
Agencies who choose to save the toys will 'have something to give to the children so they can call it their own,' Klein said.
Primary Children''s Medical Center will choose to disperse the toys they received throughout the year, said Bill Barnes, director of community relations for PCMC.
Barnes said the toys were given to the 'Child Life' department at PCMC.
The toys will be used for therapeutic programs, birthday parties, end of chemotherapy celebrations, and activities, said Jenn Hathaway, child life specialist for PCMC.
'I think it has greatly benefited the hospital because of the opportunities for play that have been given to the kids,' Hathaway said.
Hathaway said play is an important part of a child''s life.
'In the hospital we try to encourage the kids to play when oftentimes they don''t feel like playing. These toys are a great asset to help us to do that,' Hathaway said.
Murphy said it made sense to use the money to help children instead of just taking the money.
'It was a great way to help kids,' Murphy said.