Major League Baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Los Angeles to provide students with scholarship funds to attend a two- or four-year university through the All-Star Legacy program.
The new partnership between MLB, the Dodgers and LADF with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Los Angeles is a 10-year program that will help 75 students attend colleges with a $10,000 scholarship.
“The collective passion and partnership between the three organizations has helped craft an impactful and relative scholarship program for our graduating seniors,” said CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Los Angeles Patrick Mahoney. “We were so fortunate to have a wonderful selection of qualified candidates from our Jordan High School in Watts. The stories of perseverance through uniquely challenging and traumatic times were both profound and moving.”
On Monday, 10 recipients received the scholarship award in Los Angeles during a reception attended by Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, host/actor Mario Lopez (who was a member of the Chula Vista Boys & Girls Club as a youngster), CEO of the LADF Nichol Whiteman and Mahoney.
“The legacy gift this year has a special focus in the educational area,” Manfred said. “The $10,000 scholarships are a major commitment by us to the Boys & Girls Club to help them continue their educational efforts, and we do believe that education is the key to community impact. We hope that the scholarships awarded today and the additional 75 that follow will help change the lives of the young people who receive those scholarships.”
The Boys & Girls Clubs of America has been the official charity of MLB for over 25 years. Both organizations renewed their partnership in 2021 to focus on the academic and professional features of the club for kids.
“Tradition is a huge part of baseball,” Manfred said. “I think to balance our relationship with tradition is a good thing. And one tradition that is definitely a good thing is the relationship that has existed between Major League Baseball and the Boys & Girls Club for a very long time. We try to do a lot of good work with a variety of charities. But there’s only one official charity of Major League Baseball, and that’s the Boys & Girls Club.
“I think the relationship between the Boys & Girls Club and Major League Baseball has been successful because of shared values. Both organizations strive to give young people a safe place to go. Both organizations are committed to athletics. The Boys & Girls Club has particularly been helpful to us in our youth program and getting people to play baseball, which is so important to us. And the third leg on the stool in education. When we renewed our relationship with the Boys & Girls Club in 2021, we placed a special emphasis on education, and it’s really important to us.”
The recipients of this year’s awards are:
Arturo Gonzalez Reyes
Dulce Ortega
Yatziry Reyes Gomez
Alondra Nuñez
Daniel Salgado
Alejandro Mendoza
Daniya Jones
Melissa Inocencio
Yadira Ibarra
Wendy Peña
Those 10 graduating seniors were a part of the College Bond and Future Pathways Programs, which helped guide them through life and get them ready for college.
“We aim to aspire, educate and empower the next generation of leaders, while also strengthening our surrounding communities,” Mahoney said. “We do this by creating safe spaces for all youth that offer a diverse set of programs, including academic support, music, athletics, wellness, workforce readiness and college preparation. Our signature future pathway program offers mentorship, academic support and resources to middle and high school students to ensure that they graduate and are well prepared to thrive as adults.”
In addition to the $10,000 scholarship, each recipient received a new MacBook Pro and a custom Dodgers jersey with their last name and No. 22 on the back. Of course, as the students heard their names called while walking up to receive their “Inaugural All-Star Legacy Scholarship” plaque, smiles beamed across their faces.
These students now have the opportunity to attend college in Southern California and live out their dreams. They also set the bar for the next 75 students who will receive this award in the coming years.
“Students in every area of L.A. deserve this same type of support, and that will help them create pathways to their dreams,” Whiteman said. “We can’t wait to see where we are going with this."