The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation partnered with superstar Mookie Betts and the Pull Up Neighbor organization to provide meals and hygiene supplies. The Dodgers are always in the lead for their Humanitarian efforts in the underserved community.
Los Angeles is home now, Betts states. He plans to do everything he can to help the underserved communities. This past Sunday in Compton, Betts, Dodgers Foundation, and Pull Up Neighbor gave away free hand sanitizers, health screenings, and voter registration. Betts has always exercised his philanthropic efforts because he’s playing for a more than sports cause. “Life is bigger than Baseball. Baseball is only for a short period. There is so much more to Life. God has blessed me with everything that I have. So I just like to share what I have with everyone else. Making other people happy makes me happy.”
Director of Youth Programs for the Dodgers Foundation Tiffany Rubin said they always strive to give back, and with the current initiatives planned for the youth, the Dodgers don’t intend to slow down anytime soon. “It’s our duty to give back to the community, and right now, we know how difficult it can be. Whether we’re able to provide food support, hygiene, or whatever we can to give that spark and bring that to the community is really important to us.”
Betts is looking at the bigger picture when it comes to helping community members. He infers there will be many more days to reach where he will help. “I’m going to do anything I can to serve the underserved community.”
The Dodgers Foundation have conducted a needs assessment to understand what Covid-19 has done to communities, hygiene and food have been at the top of the list. Rubin mentioned they have also utilized their brand and resources to get the community what they need during this time.
In his first season with the Dodgers, Betts is already giving back, and he and the team could not be more thrilled. Rubin said it was a no-brainer to support Betts doing this time. “We are thrilled to have Mookie Betts with us for a very long time. Mookie has been amazing on the field, but off the field, the efforts of him wanting to dive right into L.A. giving back in these hard times with our resources combined.” Rubin expressed that Betts is a phenomenal player that has benefitted from some great resources and returns the favor to the community.
Pull-Up Neighbor’s mission is to give directly into the community. The Founder, Anthony Holt, was extremely grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Dodgers, and to extend their working relationship with Betts. Holt states, “Being able to partner with Mookie, the Dodgers and a great group of people to contribute and pull up to the community and hand things out.”
Betts and Pull-Up Neighbor’s relationship goes back to when he was in Tennessee working with them. When Betts arrived in L.A., it became easy for them to work together. They plan on taking the “Pull-Up Neighbor” movement across the country.
The Dodgers official DJ Severe has worked at least 13 or 14 community giveaway events since the pandemic started. He notes a couple of things he likes to look for, everybody giving back, the participants, and their spirits up.” Seeing families pull through in their cars, smiles on the kid’s faces, being a part of it, and the spirit of comradery. That’s what it’s all about. Just to see everybody contributing overall.”
DJ Severe said, “Anytime they call me, I always make sure I make it, no matter the time or how hot it is.” He mentioned how influential it is for the African American community to see Betts get involved right away. “To see him reach and give back says a lot for him and the players, especially the African American players during this time. They don’t have to do this. Just for him wanting to give back to the community and be apart of the community and not even been here for that long, says a lot.
Rubin spoke about all the significant initiatives the Dodgers Foundation has in place. They are doing a ton of work in Compton. There is a Dodgers RBI program where participants playball Baseball and softball while being provided education and health supplies to families. Three baseball fields are in the process refurbishing in Gonzalez Park, along with other components. Follow the Dodgers Foundation, Betts, and Pull-Up Neighbor and the continue to support underserved communities.
