The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation and Kershaw’s Challenge are partnering yet again on a new Dodgers Dreamfields project, with their latest efforts coming at Jim Thorpe Park in Hawthorne, Calif.
Clayton Kershaw joined LADF chief executive officer Nichol Whiteman, Council Member Alex Monteiro, LA84 Foundation chief impact officer Sandra J. Martinez, and Security Benefit regional vice president of Southern California Anthony J. Martinez, for a groundbreaking ceremony of Dodgers Dreamfields Nos. 64 and 65.
Kershaw’s Challenge has now helped fund nine Dodgers Dreamfields projects.
“Thank you to the Dodgers Foundation for letting Kershaw’s Challenge be a part of this,” Kershaw said during his speech. “This is pretty cool. Every time we get to do something like this with me out here, see how many people in the community have come out to support, it’s special to me.
“I know what baseball means for me, and it has very little to do with making it to the Major Leagues. Baseball, when I started at a young age, meant I got to get out of the house and go do something with my friends. I got to be a part of something, I got to be part of a team, I got to learn what that meant, and that’s our goal.
“That’s everybody’s goal here, is for these kids to be able to have that. Who knows? Maybe we’ll find the next Mookie Betts or Freddie Freeman on this field. But if we don’t, it will have an impact so much greater of what they do beyond baseball.
“That’s the goal of these Dreamfields, is for these kids to have an opportunity to be a part of something bigger than themselves. And to take an hour or two hours to get off a screen, get out of the house and do something different. That’s what baseball means to me and that’s what baseball means to my kids.
“That’s why it’s so special for Kershaw’s Challenge to get to partner on Dreamfields with the Dodgers Foundation.”
The $850,000 project at Jim Thorpe Park is going to include upgraded fencing, customized signage, new foul poles, renovated dugouts, an enlarged field, two new scoreboards, refreshed infield mix and sod, refurbished backstops and a new bullpen area.
Once complete, Dodgers Dreamfields at Jim Thorpe Park will be utilized by youth ages 5-12 and high school players. More than 1.7 million youth and families will have access when the project is completed, and the new fields will serve as points of pride for the community.
Clayton Kershaw’s injury
Kershaw’s involvement in the Dodgers Dreamfields groundbreaking ceremony comes amid his effort to return from a bone spur in his left big toe.
Kershaw hopes to come off the 15-day injured list in time to make one or two starts during the regular season, which Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he is “hopeful” will come to be.
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