L.A. LAKERS FORWARD VLADI RADMANOVIC HOSTS ANNUAL "GIVING TREE" AT WESTSIDE PAVILION TO BENEFIT FIVE ACRES

Here's a good chance to score some Lakers tickets and an autograph, and it will all benefit some much-deserving kids.

LOS ANGELES -- L.A. Lakers forward Vladi Radmanovic and his Vladi Radmanovic Children's Foundation will host the organization's annual "Giving Tree" at the Westside Pavilion benefiting Five Acres. The event will begin at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13 at Westside Pavilion (on the first floor just outside Nordstrom's) located at 10800 W. Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles.

With the purchase of a holiday gift from the event's Giving Tree, each fan will receive an autographed photo of Vladi as well as Lakers game tickets (while supplies last). The Westside Pavilion will staff a table for individuals seeking to purchase gift cards for the charities. Radmanovic has set a goal of collecting 200 holiday gifts and raising more than $1,500 worth of Westside Pavilion gift cards during this year's event.

"This will be our third year of hosting the Giving Tree," said Radmanovic, whose foundation, established in 2005, collected more than 1,000 toys over the past two years. "I remember when my family was homeless during the war. My mom and dad made sure my sister and I had a little something for Christmas. I can relate to these kids from Five Acres and want to make sure that they at least have something for the holidays."

Five Acres is a child and family services agency that strengthens families and prevents child abuse through treatment and education in community-based and residential programs.

Originally founded as an orphanage in 1888, Five Acres today offers an array of services including residential care and education, mental health services in homes and schools, foster care and adoptions, and domestic violence prevention.

For more information on this year's Giving Tree event, log on to vladiradmanovic.com or contact Matthew Wade, executive director of the Vladimir Radmanovic Children's Foundation at mwade@athletefoundations.com or (206) 227-9387.

Vladimir Radmanovic Children's Foundation Mission Statement:
The mission of the Vladimir Radmanovic Children's Foundation is to assist organizations that aid children who have been abandoned by their families or removed from their homes for their own protection.