Los Alamos National Laboratory has announced that its employees have donated $2.6 million to spread cheer in communities in Northern New Mexico and beyond this holiday season. The contributions to the Toy Drive will be used to purchase toys, which, along with donated toys, will be distributed to approximately 30 agencies and organizations supporting children and teens in need.

According to a press release by Los Alamos National Laboratory, employees have contributed to various causes including $2.2 million for the Employee Giving Campaign, $385,000 for the Los Alamos Employees Scholarship Fund, and $18,015, along with over 1,924 toys, for the Toy Drive. Beneficiaries of these donations include Casa Familia, CASA First Judicial District, Eastern Navajo Nation, Gerard’s House in Santa Fe, Barrios Unidos, Big Brothers Big Sisters Mountain Region, Jemez Pueblo, Moving Arts Española, Teen YMCA Center in Española and the Elizabeth Homeless Teen Center. Additionally, Triad—the management and operating contractor of the Laboratory—will match a portion of each employee’s giving. This initiative provides crucial support to nonprofits in the counties where the Lab is located.

Triad is a service provider to the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). They offer expertise in national laboratory management as well as mission-focused science and technology. Their services also cover various management areas related to nuclear energy nonproliferation national security nanotechnology renewable energy magnetic field research genomics supercomputing among others according to their website.

Established in 1943 as part of the Manhattan Project Los Alamos National Laboratory is located around 35 miles northwest of Santa Fe. It operates as a multi-program research center focusing on nuclear weapons design and production addressing nuclear threats and conducting national security science technology and engineering according to information provided on their About webpage.