Annual ‘Merry Wishmas’ Holiday Toy Giveaway Brightens Holidays for Hundreds of Pasadena Families

The gifts were piled high on tables at the Jackie Robinson Community Center on Thursday as the Pasadena Police Department and the Pasadena Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services, teamed up with the extended family of Pasadena’s baseball legend Jackie Robinson for the “Merry Wishmas” annual Holiday Toy Giveaway and holiday celebration.

The Robinson family was also joined by 86-year-old LA Dodger legend and broadcaster Manny Mota, who holds the second-highest batting average of any Dodger, and was a coach for the team’s 1981 World Series championship season.

Also in attendance were Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo, Councilmember Justin Jones, Pasadena Deputy Police Chief Art Chute and Police Commander Bill Grisafe, along with Pasadena Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Koko Panossian — not to mention Santa Claus himself.

Families lined up early for the gift giveaway and were entertained by  a performance by the John Muir High School choir, before the bicycle toy rally. The toy giveaway proved so popular, in fact, that once the first 300 officially registered children received toys, another waiting group was invited to participate and receive toys.

Between the two toy giveaway sessions, the Norma Coombs Elementary School choir also performed a selection of holiday tunes.