INDIANAPOLIS — The annual Big Toy Giveaway is making its return for the 15th year to downtown Indianapolis.
Pacers Sports & Entertainment and JAKKS Pacific Toys are working together to host the event. Since the program's creation in 2009, hundreds of thousands of toys have been delivered to families in need through more than 100 nonprofits across Indiana.
PS&E and local nonprofit partners will distribute toys through a series of in-person events throughout Indiana in December. The events will bring together local officials, Pacers and Fever alumni and personalities and other special guests.
Here is the schedule for this year’s in-person toy distributions:
- Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 4 p.m. - Frederick Douglass Park, 1616 E 25th St., Indianapolis, IN
- Thursday, Dec. 5 at 1:30 p.m. - Tekoppel Elementary, 111 N Tekoppel Ave, Evansville, IN
- Friday, Dec. 6, time is TBD - YMCA of Elwood, 1620 Main St., Elwood, IN
- Monday, Dec. 9 at 10:30 a.m. - Gibault Children’s Services, 6401 S. US Highway 41, Terre Haute, IN
- Monday, Dec. 16 at 4 p.m. - Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville, 1700 Conner St., Noblesville, IN
- Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 5 p.m. - Marion Police Department, 301 S Branson St., Marion, IN
- Thursday, Dec. 19 at 4 p.m. - Boys and Girls Club of Fort Wayne, 2609 Fairfield Ave., Fort Wayne, IN
- Thursday, Dec. 19 at 6 p.m. - Renaissance Pointe YMCA, 2323 Bowser Ave., Fort Wayne, IN
- Friday, Dec. 20 at 2 p.m. - Southeastern YMCA, 30 State Road 129 South, Batesville, IN
“We are excited and honored to be a part of this substantial initiative again this year with the Indiana Pacers,” JAKKS Pacific founder and CEO Stephen 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.”
This year, extra toys will be distributed to select local organizations in honor of the late Pacers Vice Chairman Jim Morris. At Berman's request, the toys will be distributed to the Boy Scouts of Central Indiana, the Girl Scouts of Central Indiana, the Riley Children’s Foundation, Gleaners Food Bank, the Indiana University Foundation and the World Food Programme.
