The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) partnered with Mookie Betts and his 50/50 Foundation, the Brotherhood Crusade (BHC), UCLA Health and councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson to host a Thanksgiving Grab and Go drive-thru at Algin Sutton Recreation Center in South L.A., home to Dodgers Dreamfields Nos. 1 and 50.
Mookie and Brianna Betts joined volunteers in distributing groceries for Thanksgiving meals including turkey, fixings and dessert, along with a care kit from UCLA Health.
The event was open to the public on a first come, first serve basis to provide 1,500 meals free of charge.
“It is the holidays and so it’s the season of giving,” Betts said. “So for Thanksgiving, we’re passing out these turkeys with all the other supplies, toys for kids, and just having fun.
In addition to the Betts’ family, LADF CEO Nichol Whiteman, president and CEO of BHC Charisse Bremond Weaver, and Shawn and Sharhonda Stockman, founders of Micah’s Voice, also contributed to the distribution.
“We’re really excited to be doing our third annual Turkey giveaway with Brotherhood Crusade and Mookie Betts’ 50/50 Foundation,” Whiteman said.
Since 2018, LADF has provided Brotherhood Crusade with over $416,000 in grants. This year is the third year of the 50 Feeds LA Campaign, started in partnership with Mookie’s 50/50 Foundation to address food insecurity.
Dodgers fans supported the campaign in Dodger Stadium back in May and Betts matched funds, which allowed LADF to support BHC with their largest grant to date totaling $130,230.
“Thanksgiving means the world to me,” Betts said. “Getting to spend time with my family because it’s hard for me sometimes to spend time with my family, especially with my work. And so Thanksgiving really hits home for me.
“I really cherish these moments and cherish giving back and just cherish this time of spending with your family.”
Dodgers hosted unhoused veterans for Thanksgiving meal
The Dodgers and LADF hosted roughly 400 veterans experiencing homelessness for a Thanksgiving lunch at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, November 16.
Each guest was treated to a Thanksgiving meal prepared by LEVY that included turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, pies and more. Fernando Valenzuela, Joe Davis and Kirsten Watson also helped serve the food to each veteran.
“When I addressed the crowd right at the start, I said, ‘I know that it’s probably a special experience for you guys to be here at Dodger Stadium. But speaking selfishly, I think it’s a more special experience for me,’” Davis said.
“To be able to just have this small gesture to show these folks what they’ve meant to us, to me, to the organization, to the whole country, it’s a little thing, a little expression of our gratitude for everything they’ve done. I’m really thrilled I get to be a part of it.”
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