Clayton Kershaw won’t pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers until sometime in September, but his work in the community remained ongoing over the weekend with the eighth annual Kershaw’s Challenge Back to School Bash at The Dream Center.
Clayton and Ellen Kershaw were supported by the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation again being a signature partner, contributions from Skechers, and like in years past, Justin Turner was also on hand to assist with the distribution of 2,500 backpacks that were filled with school supplies.
The free community event also included zip lining, carnival games, rock climbing, Dodger Dogs, haircuts and more for the children and families in attendance.
After needing to adjust to a drive-thru event that the Kershaw family could only participate in virtually because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, this year’s Back to School Bash brought a refreshing sense of normalcy.
“It’s incredible we’ve done eight now,” Kershaw said. “The reason we do it is because of The Dream Center. The Dream Center is unbelievable with what they do to help the community through all sorts of different things.
“Especially over the last year and a half, what’s gone on with COVID and things like that, to get the kids excited about getting back to school and getting their supplies, we know how much our daughter loves getting her supplies. It’s just going to be a great day. It’s a lot of fun to hand out backpacks.
“The hardest part was kids not being able to go to school. I think that’s one of the harder things, to go along with everybody not being able to go to work and things like that, it’s been a hard time for everybody.
“So if we can get some sense of normalcy back, get kids in school and be able to hand out backpacks and get them excited about it, it’s going to be a fun day.”
Turner happy to join Back to School Bash
Turner, who is heavily involved with The Dream Center along with his wife Kourtney, has been a regular at the annual Kershaw’s Challenge Back to School Bash, but like Kershaw expressed, this year’s event carried added significance.
“I think the exciting part of the kids is knowing that they’re going to get to back to in-person learning again,” Turner said. “Get back in the classroom, get back to hanging out with their friends.
“To be able to be here, support Clayton and Ellen, Kershaw’s Challenge, and pass out these backpacks is amazing. You see the excitement, and it’s really cool this year with all the different colored backpacks. Kids get to choose, and that’s really cool, too.”
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