Lakers Holiday Party for kids 2022

The Holiday Party for Kids wrapped up our 2022 Season of Giving, presented by East West Bank. This year, we brought together 100 youth from our community partners at After-School All-Stars and Alliance College-Ready Public Schools for a holiday celebration with the Lakers at the UCLA Health Training Center.

The youth in attendance were greeted with a t-shirt, beanie, and goodie bag from the Lakers and East West Bank, then headed into the winter wonderland! Kids were able to decorate cookies and gingerbread houses or play Bingo with some exciting prizes. They could play basketball or show off their moves at a dance station. Karaoke, carnival games with prizes, and ski ball were also available. All that was topped off with some hot cocoa and holiday treats!

One highlight from the party was a visit from Lakers players and basketball operations staff! You could catch Anthony Davis decorating cookies, LeBron James offering high fives all around, and Russell Westbrook taking photos at the photobooth. Thomas Bryant took the mic at karaoke, while Juan Toscano-Anderson worked on a Gingerbread house and Dennis Schröder took rebounds at the hoops. That’s just to name a few! The screams of the youngsters when they saw their favorite players were deafening. Lifelong memories were undoubtedly made!

When the party was over, the kids boarded their buses with their hearts, bellies, and hands full of holiday cheer. But not before receiving a special holiday gift from Squishmallow! The smiles and laughter from kids as they left were contiguous.

It’s clear the Holiday Party for Kids was incredibly successful! Not only for the kids, but for the staff and East West Bank volunteers who helped make this event full of wonder and excitement. This year’s Season of Giving with East West Bank may be coming to a close, but the special memories created will live on for years to come.