Christmas came very early for a number of children attending the Indiana Fever's game against the New York Liberty on Tuesday, July 23rd at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Photo Gallery: Fever Hosts July Toy Giveaway ยป
The Fever hosted "Christmas in July," inviting a number of youth organizations to take in the Eastern Conference showdown between Indiana and New York. After the game, each child got to pick out their own toy from a pile of 1000 toys in the IU Health Entry Pavilion. All of the toys were donated by JAKKS Pacific. An additional 20,000 toys were distributed to non-profit organizations and underprivileged children throughout Indiana as part of the larger "Christmas in July" initiative.
Lamont Dean, who mentors children in the Raise the Roof Youth Foundation, said the event was another example of the Fever and the Pacers Foundation providing a positive family environment for local children. The Raise the Roof Youth Foundation brought out 45 kids and their parents to take in the game and Dean said each child was "blessed" to receive a gift after the game.
(The kids) definitely enjoyed the experience at the game, some of them it was their first time," Dean said. "And (they) definitely enjoyed the toys. That was a surprise to them. I didn't let them know until the end."