Lakers To Hold Chick Hearn Book Drive Sunday

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — The Los Angeles Lakers will hold their annual Chick Hearn Night and fans are being asked to donate a new children's book at Sunday's game against the Golden State Warriors.

Books will be collected outside the STAR Plaza entrance of STAPLES Center from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. All fans donating a new children's book will receive an official 2010-2011 Lakers pin.

All books will be donated in Hearn's memory to Everybody Wins! Los Angeles, an organization that aims to increase a child's success in school and life through one-on-one reading experiences with adults.

If it's raining, a donation booth will be set up inside the STAR Plaza on the left-hand side near the entrance.

Chick Hearn Night also includes the presentation of scholarships to two students attending the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.

Hearn was the Lakers' announcer from the start of their radio broadcasts during the 1961 NBA playoffs until his death. He coined many phrases, including 'slam dunk,' which has transcended basketball into use in everyday life.

He is credited with helping turn the Lakers from a team that drew 4,008 fans for its first game in Los Angeles in 1960 to becoming the region's most popular team at the time of his death.

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