The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) and Will and Cara Smith’s Catching Hope Foundation partnered with Playworks to support the health and wellbeing of students at William Northrup Elementary School in Alhambra.
Fourth- and fifth-graders were treated to an hour of physical activity through various recess games that the Smiths, in addition to Chris Taylor and fiancée Mary Keller, and Evan Phillips and his wife Liz participated in as well. The play day was made possible in part through a $15,000 grant donated by LADF and Catching Hope.
“As a Dodger player, there’s a responsibility to give back,” Smith said. “It’s part of the culture in our clubhouse and it’s been that way for a while now throughout the Dodgers organization. For myself, my wife, to be in a situation to be able to give back to kids, means a lot.”
The Smiths are expecting their first child, and as a former teacher and soon-to-be mother, Cara is well aware of the importance of keeping young students active.
“It’s extremely important,” she said. “Kids need to get out and play, and the need to have structure. So being able to put that together is going to be great for them.”
Will and Cara Smith founded the Catching Hope Foundation in 2021, with a commitment to helping at-risk low-income youths in transition with critical skills needed for leadership, self-advocacy and self-sufficiency.
That Dodgers players were on hand the morning after concluding a road trip and heading into the final week of the regular season was not lost on LADF chief executive officer Nichol Whiteman.
“It’s a really big deal that the players are here,” she told DodgerBlue.com. “To be here as they prepare for another homestand and the National League Division Series, it’s a really big deal. We’re so thankful that they’ve taken the time out.
“I think it’s so important that they are out in the community as well as on the field during this time. It’s a testament to how they feel about the local communities and giving back.”
Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation STEM program
The Dodgers Foundation and 76 Gas partnered to improve access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education for 5,000 local youth.
Dodgers fans can support the initiative by texting “FUEL” to 41623, or by visiting the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Homebase in the center field plaza at Dodger Stadium, where 100 sets of six historical Dodgers pins are available with a donation of $76 or more, while supplies last.
The first 500 fans to make a minimum $76 donation will receive the limited-edition Smilin’ Jack pin and a co-branded corduroy cap, while supplies last.
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