The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) has announced that its fifth annual Blue Diamond Gala will take place on Wednesday, June 12, 2019 at Dodger Stadium and will feature a concert by world-renowned musician Bruno Mars. The evening will kick off with a star-studded blue carpet and pre-show dinner party, followed by two hours of entertainment and post-show food trucks, all to celebrate the impactful work being done year-round by LADF.

Since inception, LADF has invested over $25 million into the Los Angeles community in the form of direct programs and grant making to local organizations, impacting millions of children. Proceeds from the Blue Diamond Gala will directly impact LADF’s Dodgers RBI, and Dodgers Dreamfields programs. Past Blue Diamond galas have contributed to strengthened infrastructure, growth in programs, and increased fundraising. LADF now serves more than 10,000 youth through Dodgers RBI, and impacts over 300,000 youth through Dodgers Dreamfields – with 24 of 50 fields completed in the last five years alone. LADF has pledged to build an additional 25 fields in the next 15 years.

“We are so proud to be marking the fifth anniversary of our Blue Diamond Gala, an event that has continued to flourish each year, and raise funds for the instrumental work that the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation is doing in our communities,” said Mark Walter, Dodger owner and chairman of the LADF Board.  “We knew we had to bring in an absolute superstar to celebrate this occasion, and having Bruno Mars headlining the gala is above and beyond what we could have hoped for.  We know this will be our most memorable event yet.”

For tickets, sponsorship packages, and more information, please visit www.dodgers.com/gala.

An eleven-time GRAMMY Award winner and twenty seven-time GRAMMY Award nominee, Mars is a celebrated singer, songwriter, producer, and musician who has sold over 200 million singles worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. Mars recently swept the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards, taking home seven awards including Album of the Year (24K Magic), Record of the Year (“24K Magic”), Song of the Year (“That’s What I Like”), Best R&B Performance (“That’s What I Like”), Best R&B Song (“That’s What I Like”), Best R&B Album (24K Magic), and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical (24K Magic). 

Mars’ GRAMMY wins make him only the tenth artist to win the “Big 3” (Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year), following Simon and Garfunkel, Eric Clapton, Norah Jones, and Adele.

Bruno’s critically acclaimed and RIAA certified double-platinum album 24K Magic marked his highest first week sales debut, remaining in the Top 10 on the Billboard 200 for an impressive 44 consecutive weeks. The lead hit single “24K Magic” is certified four times Platinum by the RIAA and the follow-up smash, “That’s What I Like” is certified six-times platinum.  “That’s What I Like” also climbed to number one on the Billboard Hot 100, marking Mars’ seventh Hot 100 chart-topper and his first number one on the Hot R&B Songs chart, where it remained at the top-spot for 19 consecutive weeks. His smash collaboration with Cardi B, “Finesse,” recently skyrocketed to number three on the Billboard Hot 100. The track surged up the chart from its number 35 debut, and follows Michael Jackson’s “Black or White” as the second number 35 to number three jump in the Hot 100’s history. The remix also marks Mars’ fifteenth Hot 100 top 10 and fourteenth Hot 100 top five.

Additionally, Mars is now the first male and third act overall to have at least three top five Hot 100 hits from each of his first three albums, following only Mariah Carey and Beyoncé. Bruno is also the first artist to have two songs spend 24 or more weeks in the Hot 100’s Top five (“That’s What I Like” and “Uptown Funk”). He is the only artist in the past year to have both a four-time and six-time platinum single from the same album. Also, Mars is one of the few artists to have written and produced all of his number one hits and has had a number one song on the Hot 100 from each of his first three studio albums.

With seven Hot 100 number ones, Mars is ranked number one among male artists with the most Hot 100 number ones for this decade, extending his lead over Justin Bieber, Drake, Eminem, and The Weeknd. Mars has been traveling the globe on his massive 24K Magic World Tour, which sold more than 1 million tickets in a single day. In 2015, Bruno dominated music charts with the hit single “Uptown Funk,” which took home three GRAMMY Awards, including Record of the Year.

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.

The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation envisions a city where every young Angeleno, in every neighborhood can thrive.

Visit LADF online at www.dodgers.com/ladf, follow them on Twitter, @DodgersFdn, Instagram @dodgersfoundation and like them on Facebook at /LosAngelesDodgersFoundation

(Article courtesy of LA Dodgers)

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