2017 Season of Giving

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On Friday night, a group of 14 families at the Dayspring Center on Indianapolis' Old Northside got a special treat, as Lance Stephenson stopped by for dinner, supplying the families with special gift packages and plenty of holiday cheer.

Along with Stephenson were the Pacemates and Boomer, who signed photos and took pictures with the families during the dinner.

The Dayspring Center — a shelter for families during times of crisis that has been operating for almost 30 years in Indianapolis — was thankful to have a member of the Pacers in attendance, especially when Stephenson surprised the families with tickets to a Pacers game.

"To have Lance here is tremendous for the kids," said Lori Casson, Dayspring Center's Executive Director. "Because I think sometimes they feel like they're forgotten, and to have someone as high profile as Lance to come here and spend time with them and wish them a Merry Christmas, I think it means the world to them."

After the meal, the children there got a chance to pick items to give as gifts to their parents and other families members, with volunteers on hand helping them wrap the items. As the children searched for the perfect present, the Pacemates lent a hand to helping find the perfect gift.

The event was part of Stephenson's "Six Ways of Giving" event, and was important to Stephenson because of his strong desire to give back to his adopted hometown.

"I love to give back and do as much as I can do for the community," said Stephenson. "I'm just trying to show my dedication and how much I love the community."

By the end of the night, the group had a full supply of gifts, autographs and selfies from Stephenson, who spent much of the evening talking with the families in attendance.

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Stephenson Brings Gifts and Holiday Cheer to Local Families

During the final week of the 2017 JAKKS Pacific Holiday Toy Giveaway, Pacers Sports & Entertainment stormed through the state just in time for Christmas, distributing toys across the region.

At the Pacers' showdown with the Thunder on December 13th, the same day the team won its bid for the 2021 All-Star Game, JAKKS Pacific Toys chairman & CEO Stephen Berman attended the festivities with Pacers owner Herb Simon, getting a loud ovation from the fans for his generous donation.

"This was one the biggest donations we've done and it's gotten to so many kids and so many families of need," said Berman.

"Don't forget, he also gave toys to three other cities of ours that were struck by hurricanes," interjected PS&E owner Herb Simon, referencing the JAKKS Toys donations made to NBA cities Houston, Orlando, and Miami. "That was something that he did out of the bottom of his heart, and I'm so proud of him."

Later that week, on December 19th, PS&E made a stop in Muncie, disturbing an assortment of JAKKS toys to hospitals and daycares in the area.

"It's just great when the Pacers and their partners come in and allow children to be a part of a great giveaway like this," said Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler. "It shows that not only is there a community spirit, there is a state-wide spirit."

On the same day, the toy giveaway made a stop in Kokomo, putting smiles on the faces of children at Taylor Elementary School.

"It was a great way to kick off the holiday season," exclaimed Jeremy Luna, the principal of Taylor Elementary. "To see the kids enjoy where they're at and love where they're at, and love being a part of this school. It's what gets us up every day."

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Holiday Toy Giveaway Wraps Up in Kokomo, Muncie

Wheat Hotchkiss

The 2017 JAKKS Pacific Holiday Toy Giveaway is already off to a tremendous start.

On Tuesday morning in Columbus, Ind., approximately 75 children were treated to an early holiday surprise, as Pacers Sports & Entertainment, the Columbus police department, and members of local high school basketball teams joined forces to distribute toys from JAKKS Pacific.

The children beamed as they received their toys — Star Wars figurines are big hit this year — then laughed as they played with Boomer and Freddy Fever, the Pacers and Fever mascots, and nibbled on holiday cookies.

The day was just one of several stops PS&E is making across the state this month to distribute toys donated by JAKKS Pacific Toy Company Chairman & CEO Stephen Berman, the eigth consecutive year that JAKKS Pacific has donated toys Hoosier children.

The impact was not lost on Columbus mayor Jim Leinhoop, who expressed gratitude for the Pacers reaching out to his community.

"They're called the Indiana Pacers and they truly mean that," Lienhoop remarked.

Berman, a close friend of PS&E Owner Herb Simon, and JAKKS Pacific, one of the leading U.S. toy companies, are providing toys to more than 50 youth-serving non-profit organizations throughout Indiana. The donation is part of the annual Pacers and NBA Season of Giving initiative.

"We're very fortunate to have an extremely generous benefactor in Stephen Berman," Pacers Sr. Vice President Bill Benner. "Without him, none of this is possible."

All month, PS&E will be teaming up with local police departments for donation ceremonies in eight different cities across the state. In the first week, they visited Fort Wayne, Columbus, and Evansville.

At the first stop in Fort Wayne last Friday, they were joined by front office members, coaches, and players from the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the Pacers' affiliate in the NBA G League.

"This is something that Herb Simon and the Pacers have been doing for a number of years, and to tip it off here in Fort Wayne is awesome," Mad Ants GM Brian Levy said. "With our partnership, it just shows that although we're separated by over 100 miles, it's really not that far apart: We Are One. The same organization, the same state."

At each stop, all involved commented on the wonderful feeling of being able to bring joy to local children during the holiday season.

"Debbie Stellwagen, who I deal with here at the Boys & Girls Club, told me over the phone this morning that we have made 300 kid's Christmases because most of these kids were not going to get gifts at Christmas," said Mad Ants President Tim Bawmann. "So that's pretty special."

The toy giveaway continues next week with visits to Greencastle and Connersville on Monday and Tuesday. Then on Wednesday, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will join Berman and Simon as well as members of both the Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder in a toy distribution during pre-game and in-game festivities at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Though the donation has always been statewide, this year, JAKKS Pacific also donated toys for children in the hurricane-affected NBA cities of Houston, Miami and Orlando.

"Stephen's continued generosity knows no bounds and his initiative to reach out with toy donations to children in the three storm-ravaged NBA markets is a profoundly thoughtful gesture," said Pacers Sports & Entertainment President and COO Rick Fuson. "You simply cannot measure how many children, families and youth-serving organizations have had their holidays brightened because of Stephen's kindness over the last eight years."

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Holiday Toy Giveaway Already Making Impact Across State

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Peyton Manning Children's Hospital Visit

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2017 Toy Giveaway - Columbus

On Sunday evening at the Circle Centre Mall, the Pacers took part in the annual "Shop with The Pacers" event, hosting families from Bethany Christian Services for dinner and a holiday shopping spree.

Each child was given a $200 Simon Malls gift card, and with the help of Cory Joseph, Lance Stephenson, and Victor Oladipo, the kids had the perfect shopping companions to help them find the gifts they needed.

"These things are always fun," said Joseph, who had just finished helping his group pick out shoes from Finish Line, which offered a special discount. "The kids are always running around all kid-in-a-candy-store, smiling, having a blast, picking up whatever they can find, we're just happy to make them happy."

The evening started with a dinner provided by Papa John's and desserts supplied by Kroger, which also gave the families in attendance a $100 gift card to help out with holiday food shopping.

GALLERY: Shop with The Pacers Takes Over Circle Centre Mall »

After the players were introduced, the groups split up and took over the mall, stopping for toys, clothes, electronics, shoes, and more. In addition to having the players as shopping companions, the Pacemates, WNBA legend Tamika Catchings, and a numbers of volunteers from the Pacers and Fever were also on hand to assist.

Oladipo, who was paired with a group of sisters, made a first stop at Charlotte Russe for clothes, helping the young women find the perfect attire. One might think Oladipo wouldn't be the best person to ask for such a task, but the Pacers' leading scorer has an eye for fashion and grew up with sisters, making him a natural fit with the group.

"It was a lot easier, a lot easier when you've had the experiences I've had," Oladipo said. "So it was pretty cool to come out here and shop with them, it kind of reminded me of my past."

Another member of the Pacers who looked natural in his environment was Stephenson, the team's resident shoe expert who was able to assist his group in finding the ideal pair of kicks.

"Lance is one of the best guys probably in this league with the shoes," said Joseph of his teammate. "He's always wearing a different shoe every game, so if anybody has anything to know about any shoe, you just go to Lance."

After the groups finished their rounds, they returned to where it all started and made sure to get some pictures with their new favorite Pacers players.

For the Pacers' Director of Community Relations Kelli Towles, the annual event, which is part of the NBA Cares "Season of Giving," is always a favorite to watch as the Pacers players and the kids form a bond after a couple of hours shopping and jumping store-to-store.

"They become kids themselves," Towles said of the players. "They enjoy shopping with the kids and helping them pick out shoes or toys or stuffed bears, or whatever it might be. So it's really cool to see a different side of our players than you might see on the court."

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Holiday Cheer on Full Display at Shop with The Pacers

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INDIANAPOLIS – For the eighth consecutive year, JAKKS Pacific Toy Company Chairman & CEO Stephen Berman and his company are providing Pacers Sports & Entertainment a major toy donation for distribution to Hoosier children.

Berman, a close friend of PS&E Owner Herb Simon, and JAKKS Pacific, one of the leading U.S. toy companies, will be providing toys to more than 50 youth-serving non-profit organizations throughout Indiana. The donation is part of the annual Pacers and NBA Season of Giving initiative.

In addition, this year's donation includes toys for children in the hurricane-affected NBA cities of Houston, Miami and Orlando.

Beginning Friday, the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever through their Pacers Cares and Fever Cares programs will tip off a state-wide distribution by joining local police departments in donation ceremonies in Fort Wayne, Columbus, Evansville, Greencastle, Connersville, Muncie and Kokomo. In Fort Wayne, the toy distribution will be in partnership with the Mad Ants, the Pacers' NBA G League affiliate.

Pacers mascot Boomer, Fever mascot Freddy Fever, Pacemates and Pacers front office staff will accompany each visit.  In Indianapolis, the Pacers and Fever are again partnering with the Indiana National Guard in the distribution of toys to local agencies.

The toy giveaway will be highlighted on Wednesday, December 13 when the Pacers host Oklahoma City at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. There, Berman, Simon, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and members of both teams will participate in a toy distribution during pre-game and in-game festivities.

JAKKS Pacific is based in California and has been designing, developing, producing and marketing toys and consumer products for children around the world since 1995.  JAKKS Cares is the philanthropic arm of JAKKS Pacific and since its inception has donated more than $50 million in toys and monetary endowments to millions of underprivileged children around the world.

The holiday toy giveaway is part of the Pacers Cares and NBA Season of Giving, which includes other holiday events such as the "Come To Our House" Thanksgiving Dinner presented by Pacers Thad Young, Al Jefferson, US Foods, PS&E and the Pacers Foundation; "Shop With The Pacers" presented by Simon Malls; and a PS&E Day of Service with volunteers packing more than 100,000 meals for Gleaners Food Bank.