The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation and 76® team up for a second year to fuel access to STEM education

September 19th, 2022

LOS ANGELES (September 19, 2022) – The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) and 76® are teaming up to fuel access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education for 5,000 youth in Los Angeles. The collaboration launches today and supports LADF’s efforts to provide hands-on STEM curriculum and programming, in partnership with Science of Sport, to elementary and middle-school students, through teacher training, in local underserved communities.

“Teaming up with 76® affords us the opportunity to further our mission of providing STEM curriculum to youth in Los Angeles,” said Nichol Whiteman, CEO of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation. “With the 76® brand’s support, we’re able to train more teachers and offer a first of its kind STEM curriculum and accompanying kits to keep students engaged in science and math as they hit the age where their interests and test scores tend to decline.”

As part of the collaboration, 76® created a pin featuring the iconic Smilin’ Jack with proceeds benefiting LADF and will donate $35,000 to kick start the campaign. The first 500 fans to donate $76 or more will receive a limited-edition Smilin’ Jack pin and a Dodgers 76® co-branded corduroy hat, while supplies last. LADF and 76® are asking Dodger fans to support this initiative by texting FUEL to 41623 to access the promotion online. Fans at Dodger Stadium can visit the LADF Homebase in the Centerfield Plaza at Dodger Stadium starting on September 19, 2022, where 100 limited edition pin sets of 6 historical Dodger pins will be available with a donation of $76 or more, while supplies last.

Fans can also support the effort by participating in a special online auction from Sept. 27-Oct.7 at dodgers.com/auctions, which will feature game-used items and memorabilia autographed by your Los Angeles Dodgers. Additionally, fans can enter the 50/50 raffle on Saturday, October 1, 2022, when 50% of the pot will benefit the STEM programming.

“We’re working with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation for a second year to address a cause valued by the Los Angeles community,” said Lou Burke, Manager, Branded Sales, Phillips 66 Company. “Access to STEM curriculum is an important element in education today, and we are proud to continue supporting LADF in this work.”

As part of its continued commitment to improving education, LADF’s STEM curriculum was developed through a grant to Science of Sport to educate young people and spark curiosity in these subjects. LADF’s Science of Baseball program works to address the inequities that exist for Black, Latino and female students by partnering with schools in communities that need it most. To date, more than 150 teachers have been trained from Los Angeles Unified School District, Inglewood Unified School District and Compton Unified School District, serving 15,000 students. The LADF Science of Baseball curriculum utilizes baseball examples to improve student interest and performance in STEM. This curriculum has been designed for 3rd-8th grades.

76®, a sponsor of the Los Angeles Dodgers since 1962, is passionate about supporting the communities they are a part of, including its collaboration with LADF. 76® was an original sponsor of the Dodgers, and the brand remains a strong presence at Dodger Stadium with its iconic 76® balls sitting atop the Dodger Stadium scoreboards and its landmark service station in Lot 6 continuing to be used as an event space.

LADF has once again teamed up with the Phillips 66 Los Angeles Refinery and 76® gas stations to give the iconic Smilin’ Jack a Dodgers spin this year. Smilin’ Jack, the 3-million-gallon storage tank sports LADF decals and neighboring tank a Dodger jersey to show their support for their favorite team. For more details, follow @76 on social channels.

“Smilin’ Jack has been a Halloween tradition since 1952,” said Juliana Moreno, Public Affairs Advisor at the Phillips 66 Los Angeles Refinery. “Phillips 66 is proud to support LADF’s efforts advancing education and fostering strong and resilient communities.”