Pacers Sports & Entertainment and JAKKS Pacific Toys teamed up with the City of Noblesville on Friday, Dec. 12 to provide toys to local families and children in need. The event took place at the Boys and Girls Club of Noblesville. (Photo provided)
As part of the 16th annual statewide Big Toy Giveaway, Pacers Sports & Entertainment and JAKKS Pacific Toys teamed up with the City of Noblesville on Friday, Dec. 12 to provide toys to local families and children in need.
The toy distribution event took place at the Boys and Girls Club of Noblesville, and children enjoyed appearances by players and coaches from the Noblesville Boom, their mascot, Bobby the Bobcat, the Indiana Pacemates and Indiana Pacers mascot, Boomer.
“We are grateful to Pacers Sports & Entertainment Owner Herb Simon and the entire organization, along with JAKKS Pacific Toys, for partnering with the City of Noblesville to give back to families in our community and across Indiana,” said Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen. “The holidays are a time for reflection and giving back to others, and I’m grateful that the Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville will benefit from the generosity of this event. It’s great to see the impact of this toy giveaway and the smiles on the kids’ faces.”
After speaking to the kids, Jensen said to The Reporter, “anytime you can have a corporate partner like Pacers Sports & Entertainment not only invest in our community as part of the Noblesville boom, but for them to go a whole another layer deeper and be invested in our community, like this toy drive today, just speaks to the quality of that organization, speaks to the quality of Noblesville as a community and is going to brighten so many families’ lives this time of year.”
Since its launch in 2009, the Big Toy Giveaway has been fueled by the generosity of Stephen Berman, founder and CEO of JAKKS Pacific Toys, and his long-standing friendship with Herb Simon, owner of Pacers Sports & Entertainment. The annual statewide effort has delivered hundreds of thousands of toys to Hoosier children through a network of more than 100 community partners.
“Stephen has brought joy to countless Hoosier children over the years, creating memories that last a lifetime,” Simon said. “His generosity and commitment to this program year after year continues to make an extraordinary impact.”
“This annual holiday tradition began with friendship and grew into something much bigger,” Berman said. “It’s an honor for JAKKS Pacific Toys to work alongside the Pacers Sports & Entertainment family to help bring holiday cheer to kids and families who need it most.”
This month, PS&E and JAKKS Pacific Toys are partnering with local nonprofits to distribute toys through a series of in-person events throughout the state bringing together local officials, Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever personalities, and other special guests. Along with Noblesville, the toy giveaway events are also scheduled in Bloomington, Indianapolis, Knightstown, Muncie, Plymouth and Vincennes.
Reporter photos by Richie Hall
