Los Angeles Lakers Auction Featuring Rare Kobe Bryant Memorabilia and Owner Jerry Buss’ “Key to the City” to Fund New Emergency Alert System for California Wildfires
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Los Angeles Lakers Auction Featuring Rare Kobe Bryant Memorabilia and Owner Jerry Buss’ “Key to the City” to Fund Emergency School Notification System in Response to California Wildfires In response to the devastating California wildfires of 2025—including the Eaton and Palisades fires—top Los Angeles businesses and the Los Angeles Lakers are taking action by supporting a state-of-the-art Emergency Notification System for schools across the region. With the goal of complementing existing alert systems and improving school readiness, various cities in Southern California and throughout the State will receive an advanced Emergency Notification System capable of providing instant, life-saving emergency alerts to school communities. To further this initiative, a historic Lakers memorabilia auction featuring ultra-rare, items from Kobe Bryant and the Showtime Lakers era will take place, with proceeds directly supporting the deployment of this groundbreaking technology. ________________________________________ Record-Breaking Auction The auction, which is expected to break sports memorabilia records, will feature: • Kobe Bryant’s Signed Jersey from his only trip to Hong Kong and final trips to Asia (KB 24 HK Limited Edition) • The 1980 Lakers "Key to the City", awarded to Dr. Jerry Buss during Earvin "Magic" Johnson’s first championship run ________________________________________ Real-Time Emergency Alerts for School Safety The Emergency Notification System will provide unprecedented speed and coverage, instantly warning school staff, students, and families via: • Phones • TV • Radio • Social Media • Emergency Broadcast Networks • Satellite Systems As wildfires, earthquakes, and extreme weather intensify year after year, this initiative will ensure schools receive critical alerts before disaster strikes, helping prevent tragedy and enable rapid, coordinated response. ________________________________________ A Direct Response to the Eaton Fire Tragedy The Eaton Fire, which erupted on January 7, 2025, in Eaton Canyon near Altadena, spread rapidly due to powerful Santa Ana winds, destroying more than 9,000 structures and tragically claiming multiple lives. Investigations suggest that an inactive power line owned by Southern California Edison may have been the cause. The Palisades Fire, which ignited in Pacific Palisades in early 2025, burned through thousands of acres of residential and parkland, forcing mass evacuations in some of Los Angeles' most vulnerable communities. With unpredictable wind shifts and steep terrain making containment efforts difficult, many schools and families received little to no warning before the fire rapidly approached. While emergency personnel acted swiftly, existing alert systems failed to reach classrooms and campuses in time, leaving surrounding neighborhoods caught off guard. The tragedy underscored the critical need for a faster, more intelligent school alert system that can detect threats in real time and notify education leaders without delay.– Washington Post: What Went Wrong the Night Altadena Burned – NBC LA: Erroneous LA Wildfire Evacuation Alerts Detailed in Report – Associated Press: False Wildfire Alert Sent to Millions Due to Glitch – The Guardian: LA to Review Wildfire Alert Systems After Lethal Blazes
________________________________________ Backed by Prominent Investors and Business Leaders The initiative is backed by key investors and prominent Los Angeles businesses including: • NBA legend A.C. Green and a group of former and current Los Angeles Lakers • Edward Wong, early-stage startup and Technology VC • And various other Los Angeles businesses Del Morgan & Co., a Los Angeles-based investment advisor and investment bank that has closed over $300 billion in financial transactions, will provide strategic financial services. ________________________________________ Multi-Million Dollar Auction Expected to Break Records Demand for rare Kobe Bryant memorabilia has surged in recent years. Experts predict this landmark event could exceed $5 million USD in total bids. Recent NBA Memorabilia Auction Records: • Michael Jordan’s 1998 Finals Jersey – Sold for $10.1 million (NBA record) • Kobe Bryant’s 2008 Finals Jersey – Sold for $5.8 million • LeBron James’s 2013 Finals Jersey – Sold for $3.7 million With the historical significance of these items—and the mission to protect children across California—this auction could become one of the most valuable in sports memorabilia history. ________________________________________ Global Attention: NBA Legends, Celebrities & Tech Leaders Expected to Join The auction has already drawn attention from NBA icons, Hollywood A-listers, and philanthropic tech leaders. The Lakers have long been a symbol of greatness—and now, their legacy will help protect millions of students and educators through this breakthrough safety initiative.
