The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) announced 2018 cumulative grant donations of over $1.6 million to 70 local nonprofit organizations, which impacted over 600,000 underserved youth in some of the most challenged neighborhoods of Los Angeles. These awards are part of LADF’s annual grants program which disseminates funds three times a year to organizations who fall within its three pillars – Education + Literacy, Health + Wellness and Sports + Recreation.
“Our city is full of amazing organizations serving youth who need help accessing resources and opportunities, thus leveling the playing field,” said Nichol Whiteman, Executive Director of LADF. “We consider these organizations allies, true partners, working alongside us to transform lives, thereby making Los Angeles a better place. Our focus has been, and will continue to be supporting organizations who allow youth to thrive regardless of neighborhood or socioeconomic status.”
A 2018 survey of grantees showed that on average 87% of the youth served by grantees met eligibility requirements for free or reduced lunch at their current school, a common indicator of need in public education. 46% of youth served are female, 71% are Latino and the highest percentage of youth served are ages 11-13.
Education + Literary – 44% of funding. Grant recipients included organizations that are committed to literacy, middle school engagement and college access.
Education + Literacy Snapshot
- $32,000 to Science of Sport, Science of Baseball providing lessons and events to 1,000 3rd-5thgrade students in the Inglewood Unified School District to get them excited about math and science
- $20,000 to CASA post-secondary readiness and support services for 100 youth in foster care
- $10,000 to Camino Nuevo Charter Academy providing 2,200 youth from the highest need communities in LA – MacArthur Park, Pico-Union, Koreatown Wilshire Corridor & Echo Park – college access and success services to help them prepare for, get admitted to and graduate from college
- $15,000 to Operation Progress for students in Watts to participate in after-school activities, paired up and mentored by an LAPD Officer
- $20,000 to Aquarium of the Pacific to provide scholarships for students at Title 1 schools throughout LA to visit the aquarium and engage in marine science education
Health + Wellness – 23% of funding. Grant recipients included organizations that provide direct health, nutrition and fitness services to students at school or program sites.
Health + Wellness Snapshot
- $10,000 to Common Threads to deliver cooking and nutrition education to children and families in the Inglewood Unified School District
- $30,000 to just keep livin’ Foundation to support active lifestyle and nutrition programming for high school students in Inglewood and South LA
- $25,000 to Peer Health Exchange to train college students to teach skills based health curriculum to 2,000 high school students in Watts and Inglewood.
- $10,000 to SCHOOL Kids Yoga & Mindfulness to bring yoga and mindfulness training to 2,500 students at Title I Schools
- $15,000 to Woodcraft Rangers for after-school fitness and play programs at 18 elementary and middle schools in Huntington Park and South Gate
Sports + Recreation – 25% of funding. Grant recipients included organizations focused on inclusion, preservation and promotion of sports, youth development through sport and promotion of safe places to play.
Sports + Recreation Snapshot
- $5,000 to Miracle League LA to provide life changing experiences for children with special needs which includes complimentary play on LADF’s first Universally Accessible Dodgers Dreamfield in Baldwin Hills
- $15,000 to Natasha Watley Foundation to provide sports programming for girls and develop the next level of aspiring coaches in the San Fernando Valley
- $50,000 to Kaboom! build a playground in Alhambra Park
- $225,000 to Dodgers RBI (Reviving Baseball In Inner Cities) Affiliate Partners to offset field maintenance and umpire fees associated with their delivery of the Dodgers RBI program serving 9,300 boys and girls at 69 locations in Los Angeles (City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation – East and South Agencies, Major League Baseball Youth Academy Compton, Boys and Girls Clubs of West San Gabriel Valley, Los Angeles Boys and Girls Clubs, H.I.L.L., City of Inglewood Department of Parks, Recreation and Library Services, City of Long Beach, Parks, Recreation and Marine, City of Hawthorne Recreation and Community Services Department and YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles)
Strategic Partnerships
- $160,000 to The Jackie Robinson Foundation to support 8 students with four-year scholarships, mentorship and leadership development
- $100,000 to Vision to Learn to support free eye screenings/exams for nearly 25,000 and provide glasses to nearly 3,300 to low-income students in the Compton Unified School District
- $50,000 to Positive Coaching Alliance LA to provide athletes at Title 1 middle and high schools with 30 workshops designed to promote positive character development
- $75,000 to Library Foundation of Los Angeles to support the “Summer at the Library” program reaching over 90,000 children
- $50,000 to Playworks Southern California to provide baseball workshops at 24 elementary schools and recess rollouts at 5 schools for over 15,000 students
In addition to grants, LADF has invested nearly $2.5 million into its 2018 direct programs, Dodgers Dreamfields, Dodgers RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) and LA Reads.
Since inception, LADF has distributed more than $25 million in programs and grants to hundreds of organizations across Los Angeles through the generous support of donors and fans who support LADF by purchasing a 50/50 raffle ticket, bidding on silent auction items, sponsoring events and providing general donations.
The grantmaking program will continue in 2019 with deadlines on February 1, May 1 and August 1. To learn more visit dodgers.com/ladf.
