After a busy week of Los Angeles Dodgers charity events, Chris Taylor and his wife, Mary, hosted their second annual CT3 Foundation Polar Plunge at Manhattan Beach in what essentially concludes the offseason before players start to head out to Spring Training.
The event raised funds for the Friendship Foundation and Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation. After just partnering with the Friendship Foundation last year, the Taylors decided to add the LAFD Foundation due to the recent wildfires across Los Angeles County.
“Chris and I, honestly, didn’t know much about the challenges that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities face until we met everyone at the Friendship Foundation,” Mary said. “It’s really opened up our eyes to this cause and really made it a cause that’s dear to our hearts.
“Two things that they do that really stand out to us is I think something people with special needs struggle with sometimes is developing a sense of community, and that’s something they really focus on. They’re building a friendship campus that’s almost complete. It’s really big, it’s really awesome.
“It focuses on helping them develop vocational skills, from gardening to cooking to media. That really helps them develop skills that can help them contribute to the community in ways that we all know they are more than capable of.
“Another thing they do that we really love is they partner with general education high schools and help develop friendships between general education students and Friendship participants.”
Many local firefighters were also invited to the event as special guests.
“They’ve been at it non-stop and to be able to recognize them here today and for them to be able to come out here and be present on the beach, they really do deserve it and we’re so grateful and appreciative of everything they’ve done for all of Los Angeles,” Chris said.
Many of Taylor’s teammates were at the event, including Tyler Glasnow, Evan Phillips, Ben Casparius, Michael Grove, Emmet Sheehan, James Outman, Alex Vesia, Anthony Banda, Mookie Betts, Tanner Scott, Miguel Rojas, Tommy Edman and Tony Gonsolin.
SportsNet LA broadcasters Eric Karros and Nomar Garciaparra also participated in the Polar Plunge.
“It really speaks to our team and how close knit of a group we have,” Taylor said. “We show up for each other and for all of them to come out here today and show up for me and get in the water, it means the world to me.”
The water temperature was just below 60 degrees, which was roughly the same as the event last year. However, the air temperature was in the low 70’s this year as opposed to around 60 degrees in 2024, which Taylor said made the water feel colder this time around.
As players ran into the ocean, a lifeguard boat was out beyond the waves break line to spray water toward the participants. Most of the players were in the water for less than a few minutes before coming out.
“It’s not that bad,” Gonsolin said as he walked back onto the beach.
“Great, very cold,” Glasnow said almost immediately after coming out of the water. Anthony Banda added, “It’s cold.”
Upon exiting the water, each participant was also given a CT3 Polar Plunge-branded towel and medal.
Despite some of the players not being fond of the cold water, it turned out to be another successful event.
“It was awesome,” Tommy Edman said. “It’s pretty chilly out there, there were some good waves and the sun came out right as we were getting out. Just a perfect polar plunge.”
Taylor added: “It was cold but the weather was great, refreshing, good start to the day. The turnout was amazing and I think everybody had a good time.”
Chris Taylor plans to continue Polar Plunge event
Last year, the CT3 Foundation was able to raise $175,000 from the event to donate to the Friendship Foundation, and they plan to continue working with them for the foreseeable future.
“The goal is for this to get bigger and better every year,” Taylor said. “I thought this year was better than last year, and hopefully trend continues.”
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