(Batesville, IN) – Representatives from Pacers Sports and Entertainment joined leaders at the Southeastern Indiana YMCA on Friday for one of PS&E’s most impactful and anticipated traditions, the annual JAKKS Pacific Big Toy Giveaway.
“It’s super exciting, this actually is going to help out and reach all kinds of communities not just in the Batesville area,” said Southeastern Indiana YMCA Membership and Operations Director Tameeka Sizemore. “Honestly seeing the kids so happy, that’s my biggest joy is helping as many children as I can.”
For the 15th consecutive year, the annual partnership provides toys to hundreds of local organizations throughout Indiana and impacts thousands of Hoosier families each year. This year, PS&E hosted eight in-person celebrations around the state to spread the spirit of the season.
The partnership stems from the long-time friendship between JAKKS Pacific founder and Chief Executive Officer Stephen Berman and PS&E owner Herb Simon, and it has grown year after year thanks to Berman’s immense generosity. The program tipped off in 2009 and since then, hundreds of thousands of toys have been delivered to families in need though a network of more than 100 local nonprofit organizations around the state.
“Stephen has made thousands of Hoosier children so happy over the years, and those are memories they will carry with them for the rest of their lives,” Simon said. “He is always thinking about how we can grow the program and make it reach more families, and I am so grateful to him for his generosity and his friendship.”
“We are excited and honored to be a part of this substantial initiative again this year with the Indiana Pacers,” Berman said. “The recent years have posed significant challenges and had a notable socio-economic impact on children and families. JAKKS remains committed to contributing as many resources and products as we can to help ease the burden. We look forward to exploring further opportunities to support and to our continuing partnership with the Pacers for many years to come.”
On several other occasions, PS&E and JAKKS Pacific have expanded the Big Toy Giveaway beyond the Holiday season in support of those impacted by emergencies. Following the devastating tornado that ravaged Henryville in the spring of 2012, the partners celebrated “Christmas in July” and sent more than 14,000 toys for distribution to local families in southern Indiana.
Additionally, JAKKS Pacific sent toys to Orlando, Houston, and Miami when families in those NBA cities were impacted by severe hurricanes in 2017.
Finally, in 2022, PS&E and JAKKS Pacific worked with Morris, who previously served as head of the World Food Programme, as well as the World Food Programme itself and several Ukraine-based nonprofit partners to deliver thousands of toys to children in camps and orphanages in the war zone.
(Pacers Sports and Entertainment press release)