Major League Baseball and Scotts Company LLC selected the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) as one of the four finalists for a $50,000 field refurbishment grant toward completion of the 50th Dodgers Dreamfield, which will be built at Algin Sutton Recreation Center in South Los Angeles.
The LADF was selected as a finalist from over 350 grant applications across 315 cities in 43 states seeking refurbishments for youth fields. Fans can contribute to the Dodgers Foundation’s efforts by voting now through April 30. Voting is being conducted online at MLB.com/scottsfield.
With the grant, LADF will partner with the City of Los Angeles and the LA84 Foundation to invest $265,000 into the refurbishment, which will include new turf, irrigation, fencing, backstop, dugout roofs, scoreboard, signage, and a batting cage.
Construction is expected to take 10 to 12 weeks for completion, and a dedication event and clinic will take place in September.
“Algin Sutton Recreation Center in an area that has historically been one of the most underserved and economically challenged regions in Los Angeles, with a current poverty level of 57 percent among its residents in the same zip code,” said Nichol Whiteman, executive director of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation.
“There are nearly 25,000 youth in the surrounding area who deserve to have access to quality recreational spaces. Our suggested renovations would greatly improve a neglected field that is in desperate need of repairs. This refurbishment will complete our original goal of building 50 Dodgers Dreamfields, and we truly hope our fans and the greater Los Angeles community will vote to ensure this happens.”
In addition to serving local communities by way of building and refurbishing baseball and softball fields, the LADF is also involved in making dreams come true and a literacy program.
The Blue Wish program is the Dodgers’ version of Make-a-Wish. “If somebody is reaching a major milestone in their life, we grant these Blue Wishes,” said Naomi Rodriguez, Dodgers vice president of external affairs and community relations.
“We’ve done various Blue Wishes. Everything from spending the day with Dave Roberts as a guest manager, to meeting one of our players like Clayton Kershaw or whoever it may be. We’re constantly looking at the wishes and trying to grant as many as we can. It’s our way of trying to acknowledge our fans that have reached a major milestone in their life, or are suffering or handling something difficult.”
Submissions for Blue Wishes can be completed through the LADF website.
Meanwhile, the LA Reads Program, which includes Dodgers players and personnel visiting libraries, aims to promote literacy. “Our goal is to increase literacy and to encourage youngsters to read more,” Rodriguez said.
“Our goal this year is to have children read 1 million minutes during the season.” The top readers for the month are invited to Dodger Stadium to participate in batting practice and get acknowledged on the field.
Another 2018 goal of the Foundation’s is to have 11,000 participants for their annual 5K & 10K Run and Kids Fun Run, which is set for Sunday, Sept. 30.
