Looking around the well-appointed Toyota Center suite with ample food and plush furniture, Dacota, who attended the game with his mother, Tamia Lopez, and his siblings, was clearly impressed.

"It's good," Dacota said. "I always watch Basketball on TV, but I've never been to a game before."

Dacota's family, along with 12 others participating in the Houston Chronicle's 2008 Goodfellows program, attended Friday's game as a guest of Les Alexander.

And his largesse didn't stop there.

The Rockets owner and philanthropist donated $50,000 to the Chronicle's program, which buys toys for needy Houston-area children 2 to 10. All money, donated by the public and civic-minded businesses, is used to buy toys. The Chronicle pays other costs.

"Well, originally, I thought, I always grew up and got a lot of presents," Alexander said Friday. "It was unbelievable to me that some kids were waking up without presents. So it's need-driven on my part.

"There's definitely more meaning by far this year, because so many people are in distress," he said.

Before the Rockets' matchup with the Sacramento Kings, families were treated to gifts, interactive games, a caricature artist and face painter and dinner. Nearby, the Rockets Power Dancers mingled with the crowd, while the team's over-sized mascot, Clutch, handed out "bear" hugs and signed autographs.

Chronicle President and Publisher Jack Sweeney praised Alexander for this continued support to Goodfellows.

"Les Alexander and the Rockets just keep stepping up, year after year," Sweeney said.

"It's the eighth consecutive year they've had a special party for the Goodfellows kids," Sweeney said, "and the topper is the big check he delivers, which really provides a great dose of holiday cheer for so many needy Houston kids and their families."

Other first-time game guests were the Castillo family - Connie, her husband, Robert, and their children Anthony, 3, and Maritza, 18 months.

"It's fun," Connie said. "We've never been to something like this before. I think Anthony will always remember this, and if it wasn't for Goodfellows, we'd never be here."

Dametrice Potts soaked in every part of the evening.

"The best part is all of it, and the food is good," the 10-year-old said. "I told everybody (I was coming). I told my friends. I told my teacher. They were like, `you are lucky.' One of my friends even asked if he could go. I said, `you gotta ask my mama.' "

Mom Elisea Johnson said her five children were excited about the big night.

"I think they'll remember this Christmas more than all their Christmases."

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WANT TO GIVE?

Checks for tax-deductible contributions can be mailed to Goodfellows, P.O. Box 4260, Houston, TX, 77210-4260, or made online at chron.com/goodfellows