32nd Annual ‘Mark the Shark’ Toy Drive Spreads Christmas Cheer Across Clinton County
By Autumn Gavlock
MILL HALL — Beloved local radio personality Mark Schlesinger, better known to listeners as “Mark the Shark” co owner of schlesinger communications that operates 92.1 WSQV and 106.9 WVSQ,among other stations, will once again bring holiday cheer to Clinton County with his 32nd Annual Mark The Shark Toy Drive Radio Broadcast on Sunday, December 7, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Walmart on Hogan Boulevard in Mill Hall.
For more than three decades, Schlesinger has been a familiar voice across Central Pennsylvania. Known for his energetic weekday shows—the Rockin’ 80’s Lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the Classic 5 at 5 drive-time segment—he has long used his platform to give back to the community he calls home.
Each year, the Mark the Shark Toy Drive helps bring holiday cheer to roughly 1,200 children across Clinton County and the Keystone Central School District. Working alongside trusted local partners, the drive provides toys, bikes, and gifts to ensure that every child experiences the magic of the holiday season. Donations of new, unwrapped toys, bicycles, and cash will be accepted throughout the live broadcast to help brighten the season for families in need.
Recently, news circulated about changes to the local Toys for Tots program, but the Mark the Shark Toy Drive wants to assure everyone that there is absolutely no cause for alarm. Clinton County families will continue to have plenty of holiday support through numerous community programs, many of which receive toys and donations directly from the Mark the Shark Toy Drive. The Clinton County Chapter of Toys for Tots is no longer in service, but local organizations and agencies remain well-equipped to make Christmas bright for children throughout our area.
Contributions will be distributed through a wide network of local charities, schools, and organizations, including Clinton County Children and Youth, Infant Development, The Salvation Army, Helping Hands, Grace Lutheran, Angel Tree, local daycare centers, churches, and many others.
All donations and financial contributions stay within the local community and are coordinated through trusted organizations such as:
- Bucktail Middle/High School
- Central Mountain Middle School
- Liberty-Curtin, Mill Hall, Robb, Renovo, and Woodward Elementary Schools
- Lock Haven Area YMCA Programs
- Loganton and Howard Area Food Banks
- Sugar Valley Rural Charter School
- Clinton County Housing Coalition
- Roads to Peace
…along with several other local agencies dedicated to supporting families in need.
Toy distribution for participating agencies will take place on Wednesday, December 10, at the Flemington Church of Christ. Agencies will receive letters soon with details about pickup and coordination.
In past years, the Mark the Shark Toy Drive has received an outpouring of generosity from local businesses, corporations, community organizations, and individual donors, all eager to give back and brighten the holidays for underprivileged youth throughout the area. Their continued support has helped make the event one of Clinton County’s most cherished holiday traditions. Organizers are hopeful that these same community-minded partners—and even more new supporters—will once again step forward to keep the spirit of giving alive this season.
Those wishing to contribute financially can make tax-deductible donations to the Lock Haven Regatta Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Checks should include “Mark The Shark Toy Drive” in the memo line and can be mailed or dropped off at Schlesinger Communications, 21 E. Main St., Lock Haven, PA 17745. One hundred percent of all funds stay within the local community.
For listeners unable to attend in person, the event will be broadcast live on 92.1 WSQV and 106.9 WVSQ, and streamed online at wsqvradio.com.
Rockin’ Toy Party Kicks Off Fundraising
Before the main event, the holiday fun begins with The Rockin’ Toy Party 2025, a lively fundraising celebration set for Friday, November 28 at Haywoods on the Green in Mill Hall. The event, held in the venue’s spacious Banquet Pavilion, promises to be a night filled with high-energy music, community spirit, and plenty of holiday cheer—all for a great cause.
Doors open at 6 p.m., with live performances kicking off at 7 p.m. by local rock favorites Leadfoot, followed by a powerhouse set from Rize. Attendees can look forward to an evening packed with prizes, giveaways, and a special drawing for tickets to see the legendary band Foreigner live at the Community Arts Center.
In addition to great music and prizes, the Rockin’ Toy Party will serve as a key fundraising event leading up to the 32nd Annual Mark the Shark Toy Drive. Guests are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy or make a monetary donation to help brighten the holidays for local children. Every dollar raised will stay right here in the community, helping fill the toy drive’s collection bins and spreading Christmas cheer to families in need.
Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased in advance with cash or credit at Schlesinger Communications/Music One, 21 E. Main St., Lock Haven, or cash only at Haywoods on the Green in Mill Hall. Space is limited, and organizers encourage early ticket purchases as the event typically draws a large crowd eager to rock out for a good cause.
Proceeds from the Rockin’ Toy Party will directly benefit the 32nd Annual Mark the Shark Toy Drive, ensuring even more children across Clinton County and the Keystone Central School District have a joyful Christmas morning.
For more details, visit wsqvradio.com or tune in to 92.1 WSQV and 106.9 WVSQ for event updates and live coverage.
