The Jaime & Blanca Jarrín Foundation (JBJF), in partnership with Los Defensores, awarded more than $50,000 in scholarships to underserved college students pursuing careers in law and journalism at their annual Wine Night at the Ravine fundraising gala held Tuesday night.
This year’s theme at Dodger Stadium, “The Power of Believing,” centered around the impact affirmation, mentorship and cultural pride can have in the lives of underserved Latino students.
The event brought together supporters, students, industry and civic leaders, and advocates for an inspiring evening of food, wine, and community. Proceeds directly fund scholarships and mentorship programs through the Jaime & Blanca Jarrín Foundation that help empower underserved students to reach their full potential.
“This is a fabulous night for us,” Jarrín told DodgerBlue.com. “It is great to have so many people responding to our invitation to come here and pay tribute to Nomar Garciaparra and Jon SooHoo.
“Nomar Garciaparra was a great former player in the Major Leagues, and Jon SooHoo has been the official photographer for more than 40 years. So for our foundation, it’s great to have the opportunity to pay our respect to them and recognize the winners of the scholarships we’re giving this year.”
Since its inception, JBJF has raised more than $225,000 in scholarship funds and remains committed to uplifting the next generation of Latino leaders.
Jon SooHoo, Nomar Garciaparra honored
Along with the Jarrín Foundation raising funds for their scholarships and mentorship programs, Nomar Garciaparra and Jon SooHoo were recognized as honorees.
Garciaparra, a Whittier, Calif., native, played three of 14 career seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers and is currently part of the SportsNet LA broadcast team. Among other accolades, he is a member of the Latino Baseball Hall of Fame.
“I’m humbled by the fact the family wants to honor me at an event like this,” Garciaparra said. “Jaime means an awful lot to me. I, like so many Latinos growing up in the L.A. area, looked at Fernando and what he meant to all of our families, and the current fanbase here at Dodger Stadium is obviously influenced by him, he represented hope.
“Especially with me being Mexican and where he came from. But it was Jaime who really brought him to life into our households. So you think about those childhood memories, growing up listening to Dodger games, and we know Vin Scully, but for us Latinos it was Jaime Jarrín that we listened to.
“So I always admired him, and to get to know him, he’s even a better person. He’s one of the classiest human beings I’ve ever been around, and their entire family is. So to be honored at a big event like this, I’m truly humbled. It’s hard to put into words.”
SooHoo’s illustrious career includes being responsible for countless photographs of some of the biggest moments not just in Dodgers franchise history, but all of sports as well. He recently served as the Grand Marshal of the Golden Dragon Parade in Los Angeles.
“It’s wonderful,” SooHoo said of being an honoree. “Having known Jaime and the family for so long, it’s my 41st year for me and knowing him since I got here, from Vero Beach all the way to dinners on the road and meals with the family, going to the Hall of Fame with him, just to be a part of his world and appreciated, it’s very much an exciting night.”
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