Lakers Community

Congratulations to iPlay iLead Academy on winning the Lakers Youth Foundation January 2026 YOU Grant Contest!  Mission Statement: iPlay iLead Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit empowering youth ages 6–17 in underserved communities through mentorship, resources, and experiences that inspire growth, success, and brighter futures. We offer a year-round program that builds youth resilience and confidence through empowerment workshops, activities, and physical education, helping participants develop leadership, teamwork, respect, and self-confidence.Funding Project: Funding would support the continued delivery and expansion of iPlay iLead Academy’s year-round programming by providing high-quality empowerment workshops, physical education activities, and leadership development experiences for youth. Resources would help cover program materials, equipment, safe spaces, and outreach, ensuring more participants can build resilience, confidence, teamwork, and self-confidence while accessing consistent, impactful support.Please check back in March for another Lakers Youth Foundation YOU Grant opportunity!  

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2025-26 Lakers Youth Foundation January YOU Grant Winner 

Leading up to Veterans Day, 100 U.S. military service members laced up their shoes and stepped onto the hardwood at Crypto.com Arena. The annual Hoops for Troops program hosted by Pechanga Resort Casino and the Los Angeles Lakers on November 8 and 10 offered basketball clinics for active service members ahead of Lakers games. Lakers Legends Michael Cooper, Derek Fisher, Robert Horry and James Worthy joined the clinics to lead the basketball skills clinics.Servicemen and women got to put their military work aside and team up with Lakers Legends on shooting, dribbling, passing and defensive skills as they enjoyed friendly competition. Service member families were invited to watch from the stands. All participating military received t-shirts, meal vouchers and four tickets to that evening's Lakers game. This year's military members were from the March Air Reserve Base near Moreno Valley and the Los Angeles Air Force Base."Service members do amazing work for our communities every day and we are honored to play a small role in recognizing and honoring their work," said Los Angeles Lakers Director of Community Relations Mathew Makovec. "We are proud to support our regional military members and hope they enjoyed a great day on the court.""The Hoops for Troops program sets aside a few days every year to make sure these incredible men and women can at least for a short time leave behind the rigors they face and come together to share stories, high fives and good laughs," said Ken Perez, President of the Pechanga Development Corporation. "We see their big smiles when they're on the court with each other and the Lakers Legends and we know they appreciate this gesture of support for their service and sacrifices. We salute our service members."The Lakers and Pechanga Resort Casino created the Hoops for Troops program in 2015 to recognize and honor military members for their service. Hoops for Troops is also a year-round initiative led by the NBA to honor active and retired service members and their families in collaboration with organizations serving active military members and veterans.  The Lakers hosted Veterans Night, presented by Pechanga Resort Casino, Nov. 10 when the team defeated the Toronto Raptors at Crypto.com Arena. Fans in attendance received Lakers and Pechanga Resort Casino camo hats.

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Pechanga & Los Angeles Lakers Host Basketball Clinics for Local Service Members

The Lakers continued their Season of Giving with the annual Turkey Giveaway, presented by East West Bank.

The line wrapped around the corner at the Salvation Army LA Red Shield Community Center, as community members gathered to receive their Thanksgiving meal needs. Pumpkin pies, baguettes, and all the fixings were distributed to each guest. And of course, everyone went home with a turkey!

Lamar Odom, A.C. Green, Robert Horry, and the Laker Girls were also in attendance to help pass out items and interact with the community.

By handing out Thanksgiving meal needs, the Lakers and East West Bank are helping to give more families an opportunity to share a warm meal on Thanksgiving. The Season of Giving will continue through the holiday season, spreading more Lakers cheer!

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Season of Giving 2022: Turkey Giveaway

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Lakers Turkey Giveaway 2022

In observance of September 11th, the Los Angeles Lakers returned for a TEAM UP with 911Day to turn a day of tragedy into a day of service and remembrance.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Lakers staff and families joined together at Los Angeles Convention Center to meal pack and support people who are food insecure the Los Angeles community. In honor of the federally recognized National Day of Service and Remembrance, the Nation’s largest day of charitable service, volunteers from the Los Angeles community worked as a team and assembled 200,000 non-perishable meals to give, serve and help those less fortunate. &nbsp;&nbsp;

As millions of people do good deeds on this day, it was the perfect opportunity to make an impact in our community.&nbsp;

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Lakers Team Up with 911DAY

On Tuesday, August 2nd, the Lakers Youth Foundation, with the help of AC Green, celebrated the opening of the newly renovated court at the the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor.

The kids received a Basketball and Health & Fitness Clinic on their own official Lakers Court. The young athletes were taught the fundamentals of basketball, such as passing, ball handling and shooting. Coaches also educated kids on the importance of health and fitness.

The Lakers Youth Foundation granted the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor a grant to refurbish their gymnasium. Refurbishments included new baskets that have adjuster systems to meet the needs of all ages, padding around the entire gym, and installing a new court with the Lakers logo.

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Court Renovation at Boys & Girls Club LA Harbor

To celebrate the NBA’s 75th season, NBA Cares continues its mission to use the power of basketball to create a lasting positive impact in communities globally. Working alongside each of its teams, the NBA has spent the 2021-2022 season refurbishing and unveiling a newly renovated Live, Learn, and Play Centers in each local market.

The Lakers selected the Boys & Girls Club of San Fernando Valley to be recipients of the honorary donation intended to refurbish and unveil a new Live, Learn and Play center. This close community partner caters to underserved and at-a-disadvantage youth from the northeast San Fernando Valley, and is dedicated to promoting the educational, vocational, social, and character developments of boys & girls between the ages of 6 and 17.

This project turned “The Club” Teen Center into a Lakers & NBA Cares branded Live, Learn & Play Center that provides a safe, stimulating, and comfortable environment for these older youth to study, relax, and build friendships. The room was reoutfitted based on a focus study of teen members, and was also designed by a former club member, Lucero Gutierrez of Lustrous Interiors.

During the unveiling, Lakers Legend Robert Horry made a special appearance to engage with the teens, taking photos and playing some ball. The 2020 Championship Trophy also made a visit, exciting the teens as they took in the new room.

Lakers Community

2025-26 Lakers Youth Foundation January YOU Grant Winner

Pechanga & Los Angeles Lakers Host Basketball Clinics for Local Service Members

Lakers Turkey Giveaway 2022

Lakers Team Up with 911DAY

Court Renovation at Boys & Girls Club LA Harbor

75th Anniversary Season Legacy Project Unveiling￼

75th Anniversary Season Legacy Project Unveiling