Los Angeles Dodgers spread holiday cheer at local elementary schools

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Los Angeles Dodgers visited four elementary schools yesterday morning and passed out items ahead of the holiday season. As part of their annual holiday program, volunteers boarded the Dodgers Holiday Express bus and delivered 500 toys and 400 pairs of shoes, provided lunch, and teamed up with WSS Cares! to donate 400 gift cards to the students.

The program featured four local schools: Solano Avenue Elementary, Castelar Elementary, Logan Academy of Global Ecology, and Elysian Heights Elementary Arts Magnet. Greeted by sounds from The Cheat Codes, an American electronic music DJ trio, students were gifted with toys and shoes ahead of the holidays. The Dodgers partnered with Shoes That Fit, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that recognizes the importance of owning new athletic shoes in order to learn, play, and thrive with confidence.

“Every year the Dodgers commit to spreading holiday cheer by providing unique opportunities for children in our communities. This year we brought the Dodgers Holiday Express to schools surrounding Dodger Stadium and were able to surprise 400 children with much needed gifts and a special visit from Santa Claus,” said Naomi Rodriguez, Dodger Vice President of External Affairs & Community Relations. “We are proud to play a small role in spreading some much-deserved holiday cheer to kids who are right in our backyard.”

"One in three children in the United States live in low-income families, and shoes are one of the most expensive items to provide. When families have to choose between putting food on the table or buying new shoes for school, you can imagine that food wins every time,” Amy Fass said, CEO/Executive Director of Shoes That Fit. “The simple gift of a pair of shoes can increase a child's confidence, attendance and performance at school, and we are so thankful that the Dodgers are taking the time to make such a positive impact on kids in their community.”