Earlier this week, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) hosted its 5th Anniversary Blue Diamond Gala, a star-studded evening that featured an exhilarating performance by world-renowned musician Bruno Mars.
Credit/Copyright: Bruno Mars
Equality trailblazers Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss were honored during the event, which raised over $3 Million and was attended by over 2,000 guests.
The Los Angeles Dodgers Ownership Group presented the 2019 Blue Diamond Gala. The group includes Chairman Mark Walter, Earvin Magic Johnson, Todd Boehly, Robert “Bobby” Patton, Jr., Peter Guber, Billie Jean King, and Ilana Kloss.
The evening also included a welcome from Emmy-nominated actor, Anthony Anderson, introduction of the 2019 Los Angeles Dodgers, highlight of youth impacted by LADF’s programs, and SportsNetLA hosts Joe Davis and Orel Hershiser, who helped bring awareness to LADF’s important work. DJ Rashida and DJ Severe provided the soundtrack for the evening.
Attendees included Players Austin Barnes, Cody Bellinger, Walker Buehler, Dylan Floro, David Freese, Kyle Garlick, Enrique Hernandez, Rich Hill, Kenley Jansen, Joe Kelly, Clayton Kershaw, Kenta Maeda, Russell Martin, Max Muncy, Joc Pederson, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Corey Seager, Ross Stripling, Chris Taylor, Justin Turner, and Alex Verdugo, Manager Dave Roberts, and Coaches Aaron Bates, Dino Ebel, Bob Geren, Rick Honeycutt, and George Lombard, former Los Angeles Dodgers Ron Cey, Steve Garvey, Rick Monday, Manny Mota, and Fernando Valenzuela, and additional special guests including Tiffany Haddish, Mario and Courtney Lopez, Prince Jackson, Holly Robinson-Peete, Loretta Devine, Tina Knowles, Loni Love, Parker Bates, Ann Meyers Drysdale, Mackenzie Hancsicsak, Matt Iseman, Kat McNamara, Emily Osment, Haley Joel Osment, Danielle Savre, Bernie Taupin, Anne Winters, Calum Worthy, Marcellus Wiley, Shawne Merriman, and many more!
Founded in 1995, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) is the official team charity of the Los Angeles Dodgers. An award-winning leader in sports-based youth development, LADF harnesses the power of the Dodger brand, and a passionate fan base, to significantly impact underserved youth in some of the most challenged neighborhoods of Los Angeles. With a focus on Sports + Recreation, Education + Literacy, and Health + Wellness, LADF administers direct programs serving youth and communities at large and provides grants to local nonprofit organizations. With a bigger than baseball mentality, LADF is focused on finding innovative ways to create opportunities for children through programs that engage with kids in sports, helps kids stay active and promote academic success. With the support of partners, stakeholders and fans, LADF produces incredible results on fields, in classrooms and at recreation centers, creating Major League Communities.
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 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. Using our celebrity and the power of sport, we run and fund proven programs aimed at young under-resourced Angelenos. 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. LADF has even bigger ambitions on deck.
The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation envisions a city where every young Angeleno, in every neighborhood can thrive.
