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TALLAHASSEE -- Nearly 24,000 toys valued at more than $191,000 will be distributed to Florida children this holiday season under an agreement settling price fixing charges against Hasbro Inc., Attorney General Bob Butterworth and Comptroller Robert Milligan announced today.

Without admitting wrongdoing, the toy manufacturer agreed to provide $3.57 million worth of toys through the U.S. Marine Corps' "Toys for Tots" program to children in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The company also agreed to pay $2.38 million in cash -- including $127,373 to Florida -- to be used expressly to purchase toys, books or other educational materials for children.

"Providing gifts to children is a fitting way for one of the nation's largest toy makers to settle the charges against it," Butterworth said. "This should make the holidays brighter for thousands of Florida's neediest youngsters."

"This contribution will go a long way toward making this year's 'Toy's for Tots' program a success," said Milligan, a retired three-star Marine Corps general who chairs a "Toys for Tots" drive every holiday season. "I also hope it will inspire other companies and individuals to make contributions as well."

Hasbro was one of three toy makers charged last year along with retail giant Toys 'R' Us with conspiring since 1989 to withhold popular toys from low margin warehouse clubs that undercut Toys 'R' Us prices. Those charges against Toys 'R' Us and toy manufacturers Mattel Inc. and Little Tikes Company are still pending.

According to the civil complaint, Toys 'R' Us brokered an unlawful agreement among the toy manufacturers to ensure that the warehouse clubs could obtain certain popular toys only in "combination packs," which cost consumers more and whose prices could not be compared with items sold by Toys 'R' Us.

Butterworth and Milligan said the toys to be distributed under the agreement will arrive at Marine Reserve units in each state between December 14 and 16 and will be distributed to children between December 16 and 23. They will be distributed in Florida from locations in Hialeah, Jacksonville, Milton, Orlando, Tallahassee, Tampa and West Palm Beach.

The case was handled for Florida by Antitrust Chief Trish Conners and Assistant Attorney General Jay Vail.