The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) has announced a cumulative grant donation of $1.2 million to 55 local nonprofit organizations and investments of an additional $1.8 million in its cornerstone programs during 2016, totaling $3 million in charitable contributions last year. LADF’s grants and contributions focused on programs which benefit underserved youth in the areas of Education + Literacy, Sports + Recreation, and Health + Wellness.

Education + Literacy received 44% of grant funding in 2016. The grant recipients included organizations throughout the Los Angeles metro area that are committed to literacy, middle school engagement and college access. Grantee support included:

• Jackie Robinson Foundation – Four-year scholarships for 10 scholars attending seven colleges and universities throughout the country
• City Year LA – During and after-school support for over 5,300 students at four middle schools which includes a “Take Me Out to the Book Game” reading club
• The Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles – “Summer Night Lights” which allows 32 parks to stay open from 7-11 p.m. during the summer months
• Spark LA – Transportation funding that allows 300 students to get from school to their workplace apprenticeships throughout the city
• Aquarium of the Pacific – Scholarships for thousands of students each year to visit and learn at the aquarium free of charge
• Minds Matter LA – Intensive college prep for high school students with a combined family income of less than $25,000 per year 
• Think Together – After-school literacy and college access programs for over 2,200 students at 23 middle schools in Azusa, Baldwin Park, Duarte, Pico Rivera, Norwalk, Lynwood, El Monte and South Whittier  
• Young Story Tellers – Elementary school “Script to Stage Program” in dramatic writing and storytelling for 5th grade students in Los Angeles
• Library Foundation of Los Angeles – “Summer at the Library” reaching 34,000 children and a five-part Summer Library Reading Series led by Dodger players, coaches, and alumni
• Inner City Arts – Arts education to more than 600 underserved middle and high school students after school, on weekends and during the summer

Sports + Recreation constituted 20% of grant funding last year. Grant recipients included organizations focused on inclusion, preservation and promotion of sports in communities, those using sport to create leadership opportunities, character development and organizations that promote safe places to play, and/or healthy and active lifestyles. Grantee support included:

• Playworks – 525 Junior Coaches, fourth and fifth-grade ambassadors who lead active playtime at local elementary schools
• Coach Art –  Adaptive baseball programming for youth with severe illnesses
• Miracle League LA – Baseball programming for special needs youth at the Universally Accessible Dodgers Dreamfield in Baldwin Hills
• Positive Coaching Alliance LA – Programming to help those involved in sport create positive, character-building youth sports culture
• City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation – South Agency, County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation – East Agency, Major League Baseball Urban Youth Academy, Compton, Boys and Girls Club of Venice, Los Angeles Boys and Girls Clubs, Hollywood Indies Little League, City of Inglewood, Department of Parks, Recreation and Library Services – Offset field maintenance and umpire fees associated with the Dodgers RBI program serving 6,000 boys and girls at 56 locations in Los Angeles

One of the more popular programs the LA Dodgers Foundation has helped fund are the many Dreamfields throughout Los Angeles. (Photo courtesy of LADF)

Health + Wellness – focused organizations were tabbed for 36% of grant funding. Grant recipients included organizations that provide direct services to students at school or program sites that seek to address health challenges that prevent children from engaging in school or recreational activities. Grantee support included:

• Vision to Learn – Free eye screenings, eye exams and glasses for low-income students
• Jk livin – Active lifestyle and healthy nutrition programming for students at two high schools in Inglewood and South Los Angeles
• LA Food Bank – Student access to healthy food options, nutritious weekend meals provided to over 1,000 students at nine schools via the BackPack Program
• Common Threads – Healthy cooking and nutrition education to students during and after school
• California State University, Northridge – Campanella Scholars – 20 Two-year scholarships for students in CSUN’s Physical Therapy doctoral program

 LADF will continue its grant making program in 2017 with revised grant cycles, and will now accept grants three times a year, instead of four, on February 1, May 1 and August 1. LADF will continue to award funds to applicants seeking funding for programs focused on children and families in need in the areas of Education + Literacy, Sports + Recreation, and Health + Wellness. Participating organizations will be showcased during pre-game ceremonies at Dodger Stadium and in various other media throughout the upcoming season.

Since the Foundation’s inception in 1995, LADF has distributed over $11 million in grants to the local community. For a full list of grant recipients, as well as more information about the LADF grant application process, please visit: dodgers.com/ladf.

(Article courtesy of Dodgers PR Department)