The Los Angeles Dodgers today were named a finalist for the Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year, ESPN announced, in recognition of the work of the club’s official charity, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF).
The winner of the award will be announced at the fifth annual Sports Humanitarian Awards presented by ESPN on Tuesday, July 9 and will be broadcast on ESPN on July 18.
The Sports Humanitarian Awards are a celebration of the impact made by athletes, teams and sports industry professionals who use the power of sport to make a difference throughout the world. In addition to the Dodgers/LADF, the other finalists for Team of the Year are the Anaheim Ducks (NHL), the Chicago Fire (MLS) and New York City Football Club (MLS). The evening will be hosted by Grammy Award winning singer and songwriter, Ciara and feature presentations for the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award, the Corporate Community Impact Award, the Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award, the Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award, the Sports Sustainability Leadership Award and the League Humanitarian Leadership Award.
“With an engaged ownership group chaired by Mark Walter, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation has a robust strategy focused on the most significant problems facing the city of Los Angeles at a time when a quality education, youth sports and health care are increasingly reserved for the elite,” said Nichol Whiteman, Chief Executive Officer. “Using our celebrity and the power of sport, we run and fund proven programs aimed at young under-resourced Angelenos. And we have bigger ambitions on deck.”
LADF is bigger than baseball, envisioning a city where every young Angeleno, regardless of neighborhood, has the opportunity to thrive. Since inception, more than $25 million has been invested in programs and grants to nonprofits to improve access to education, health care and sports. LADF now administers and supports programs that prepare students for college; award scholarships; pay for eye screenings and glasses; inspire children to read; and use baseball and softball to build kids’ confidence and improve their lives. LADF serves 10,500 youth through its sports-based youth development program and provides 300,000 kids access to a safe place to enjoy recreational activity in their own neighborhood.
