The Los Angeles Dodgers Dodgers, Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) and Baby2Baby teamed up for the third consecutive year to host 600 students for a holiday party at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday morning, in partnership with FRAME and Nordstrom.
Students were brought in from the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and KIPP SoCal Public Schools, including Pasadena Unified School District students impacted by the Eaton Fire.
“It has been a very rough year,” LADF CEO Nichol Whiteman said. “We started out last year, very close to this time, at a really tough place in our city, and when we think about that, that’s why it was so important that we parter with the Pasadena Unified School District to ensure students in the schools that were impacted, and the neighborhoods that were impacted in Pasadena and Altadena were here today, so that is very important.
“We also think about students in LAUSD and just so much that’s happening in our city, in our world, that is impacting children and families all over. So there’s even more need, if you will, and at the Dodgers Foundation, our goal is to tackle some of those needs on a regular basis. So now more than ever, we know they need it.”
The kids enjoyed a fun-filled afternoon that included opportunities to sled down a snow hill, run the bases, participate in fielding drills in the outfield, and take a picture with Santa.
The students were also provided lunch in the pavilion and given essentials they would otherwise go without during this time of year, including warm clothing, winter coats, toiletries, toys and more.
“Our community values revolve around just giving back and supporting kids,” Dodgers vice president of government and community affairs Kristin McCowan said. “Sometimes that’s through literacy programs, sometimes that’s through distributions, but sometimes it’s a combination of those things.
“Sometimes you can distribute things, you can give kids materials they need, like back to school and other things, but you can also give them an amazing memory and a really fun experience. Who doesn’t love the holidays? We all do.
“Every kid is so excited for their upcoming winter break, but this gets them pumped to go to school, because they got to go to school today and come here to do this, and there’s nothing better. People come to sports for experience and entertainment, and sometimes that’s what we get to bring to the kids too, just a really fun day.”
Tommy Edman was also on hand to meet the children and help distribute Dodgers jerseys and hats.
“I think just being able to hang out with the kids and see their smiles as we’re handing gear out to them,” Edman said. “And to be able to appreciate all the support we have, both from adults and kids alike, and to be able to see that I have a chance to be a role model for so many kids out there, it makes me want to do everything the right way and kind of be someone they can look up to.”
Dodgers Foundation support of Baby2Baby
Since 2020, LADF has supported Baby2Baby to the tune of $365,000 to provide basic essentials to Angelenos.
Baby2Baby is a national non-profit organization that provides children living in poverty with diapers, formula, clothing, and the necessities that every child deserves, serving more than one million children across all 50 states every year.
Led by Co-CEOs Kelly Sawyer Patricof and Norah Weinstein, the organization has distributed over 375 million items over the past 12 years – more than any organization of its kind – to children in homeless shelters, domestic violence programs, foster care, hospitals and underserved schools as well as children who have lost everything in the wake of disaster.
The organization’s success has been propelled forward by its industry-leading model that is redefining what it means to operate a non-profit with a seamless integration of impact, innovation, and influence, which earned them recognition as the #1 non-profit on Fast Company’s World’s Most Innovative Companies and praise from TIME Magazine as one of 2023’s most influential companies.
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