LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers will embark on their tenth annual Community Caravan, “Pitching in the Community” presented by jcpenney, beginning Monday, January 21 with Dodger alumni visiting various organizations throughout greater Los Angeles through Thursday, January 24.

Dodgers Luis Cruz, AJ Ellis, Mark Ellis, Andre Ethier, Tim Federowicz, Adrian Gonzalez, Javy Guerra, Matt Guerrier, Kenley Jansen, Clayton Kershaw, Brandon League, Don Mattingly, Nick Punto, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Skip Schumaker and Shawn Tolleson will serve the community on Friday, January 25. 

“Pitching in the Community” presented by jcpenney is a civic engagement initiative where the Dodger players, alumni and employees as well as jcpenney employees join together for a week-long celebration of service to the Los Angeles community in partnership with community-based organizations. 

Monday, January 21

Day one of “Pitching in the Community” will feature Hall of Fame Manager Tommy Lasorda along with Dodger alumni Billy Ashley, Bobby Castillo, Al “The Bull” Ferrara, Lee Lacy, Tim Leary, Joe Moeller, Wes Parker, Dennis Powell and Derrel Thomas, who will visit:

9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.          City Year Day of Service at Belmont High School

1575 West Second St., Los Angeles

Dodger alumni and jcpenney employees will join 1000 volunteers and participate in a day of service at Belmont High School in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. where they will engage in mural paintings and other beautification activities. One of the paintings will be a Jackie Robinson inspired Dodger mural.

City Year is an education-focused, non-profit that partners with public schools and teachers to help keep students in school and on track to succeed. City Year brings together teams of young AmeriCorps members who commit to a year of full-time service in schools to provide individual support to students who need extra care and attention.

Tuesday, January 22

Dodger alumni Billy Ashley, Al “The Bull” Ferrara, Eric Karros, Lee Lacy, Tim Leary, Joe Moeller, Dennis Powell, Bill Russell, Derrel Thomas and Fernando Valenzuela will partake in day two of “Pitching in the Community” at:

11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.          Southeast YMCA

3355 E. Gage Ave., Huntington Park, CA 90255

Dodger alumni and jcpenney employees will engage in storybook reading to preschoolers as well as other interactive activities. Afterward alumni will join senior citizens for lunch.

The YMCA is a cause-driven organization for youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Programs, services and initiatives enable kids to realize their potential, prepare teens for college, offer ways for families to have fun together, empower people to be healthier in spirit, mind and body, prepare people for employment, welcome and embrace newcomers and help foster a nationwide service ethic.                

Wednesday, January 23      

Day three of “Pitching in the Community” will feature Dodger alumni Ron Cey, Al “The Bull” Ferrara, Jim Gott, Lee Lacy, Tim Leary, Wes Parker, Dennis Powell, Bill Russell and Steve Yeager along with Spanish-language broadcaster Pepe Yñiguez, who will visit:

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.        Project Youth Green/Youth Speak Collective

Roger Jessup Park, 12467 West Osborne, Pacoima

Dodger alumni will join students from Maclay Middle School “Environmental Justice Club” and the Youth Speak Collective at their Project Youth Green community garden in Pacoima and engage in gardening activities.

Youth Speak Collective is a youth-driven organization founded on the idea that all young people can succeed if provided with the right opportunities.  Project Youth Green is a four acre community revitalization project that focuses on youth education, community gardening and physical exercise.

Thursday, January 24

The fourth day of “Pitching in the Community” will feature Dodger alumni Al “The Bull” Ferrara, “Sweet” Lou Johnson, Lee Lacy, Kenny Landreaux, Joe Moeller, Dennis Powell, Derrel Thomas and Steve Yeager, who will visit:

9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.          Playworks

1415 N. La Tijera Blvd., Inglewood, CA

Dodger alumni and jcpenney employees will engage in a structured recess at La Tijera Elementary School joining more than 200 youngsters in playing games. Dodger alumni will also spend time speaking to the Jr. Tigers leadership class.

Playworks’ mission is to improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for safe, meaningful play by providing as much as 30-45 minutes of daily physical activity to children throughout the school day. Playworks’ focuses on recess time, leadership development, class game time, interscholastic/developmental sports leagues and out-of-school time programs.

Friday, January 25

The final day of “Pitching in the Community” will feature Dodgers Luis Cruz and wife Maria, AJ Ellis and wife Cindy, Mark Ellis, Andre Ethier and wife Maggie, Tim Federowicz, Adrian Gonzalez, Javy Guerra, Matt Guerrier, Kenley Jansen, Clayton Kershaw and wife Ellen, Brandon League and wife Sasha, Don Mattingly and wife Lori, Nick Punto, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Skip Schumaker and Shawn Tolleson and wife Lynley, who will visit:

9:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.          Santee Educational Complex

                                                1921 South Maple Ave., Los Angeles

The Dodgers and jcpenney will work on the school’s community garden with students from Santee’s baseball team and culinary school. The day’s project includes installation and planting of a victory garden that will be located outside the library.

Santee serves youngsters in grades nine through 12. The campus opened on July 5, 2005 with a three-track, year-round calendar to provide immediate relief for overcrowding at nearby Jefferson High School. It is a member of the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools, an organization dedicated to bringing the best instructional and operational practices into the classrooms of inner-city schools.  Santee is composed of three small learning communities including the school of business which offers elective classes in culinary arts and business.

11:50 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.          Inner-City Arts

                                                720 Kohler St., Los Angeles

The Dodgers and jcpenney will engage with 150 youth on art projects including painting, visual arts and ceramics. Friday will mark the first day of a new 7-week session for kids from Melrose Elementary.

Inner-City Arts provides elementary, middle and high school students, many living in LA’s poorest neighborhoods, with the tools and skills they need to succeed academically and personally. Students at Inner City Arts’ award winning campus work with professional teaching artists in well-equipped studios and performance spaces.  Inner City Arts also provides after school and weekend programs for students from schools which no longer have arts programs.

1:45 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.           Tobinworld

                                                902 East Broadway, Glendale

The Dodgers and jcpenney will engage in a variety of service activities with Tobinworld’s youth including playing outdoor games, serving ice cream and working at their store.

Tobinworld is a special education school for children and young adults with behavior problems. Typically students have been classified as severely emotionally disabled, autistic or developmentally disabled.

4:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.           Dodgers Dreamfield at LA Boys and Girls Club

2635 Pasadena Avenue, Los Angeles

Dodger players will conduct a youth baseball clinic on the Dodgers Dreamfield where kids will learn hitting, baserunning, fielding and pitching. Following the clinic, the group will sign autographs for the youngsters in a Dodger-themed activity room.

More information on the Dodgers Dream Foundation and the club’s charitable endeavors can be found at www.dodgers.com/community. Media should contact the Dodgers Public Relations department for more information on the Dodgers Community Caravan and to confirm attendance.

*             All featured guests subject to change

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