Andre Ethier to volunteer at Union Rescue Mission Monday

LOS ANGELES - Dodger outfielder Andre Ethier will volunteer at the Union Rescue Mission, located at 545 S. San Pedro St., from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Monday, serving meals in the Mission's cafeteria and distributing gifts bags with items courtesy of New Balance, Easton and Pacific Shore Holdings at the conclusion of the visit. Dodger partner Farmer John will donate Farmer John DODGER DOG® hot dogs to be served at lunch.

Ethier donated $75,000 to the Union Rescue Mission's learning center and created a scholarship program. His contribution helped secure two instructors for the leaning center and make improvements to the center such as new paint, furniture and supplies. FIDM/ Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising students prepared design plans for the enhancements of the learning center, which will be unveiled to Ethier Monday.

This is the sixth consecutive year that Ethier has volunteered at the Union Rescue Mission. The Dodger outfielder has also served food to the homeless at the Weingart Center on skid row in Los Angeles and has been active in the local community since joining the club in 2006, having made annual visits to the Union Rescue Mission, partaking in several Make-A-Wish Foundation projects, hosting several holiday shopping sprees for underserved youth and donating his time on countless hospital visits, caravan appearances and autograph sessions for Dodger fans throughout Southern California.

The Union Rescue Mission provides comprehensive emergency and long-term services to help the homeless escape the dangerous streets of skid row. It was established in 1891 and is the oldest mission in Los Angeles. Since 1996, the Union Rescue Mission has partnered with the Los Angeles Unified School District to develop an onsite adult learning center at its downtown shelter. Each year the learning center provides education and vocational training for over 200 homeless men and women living at the shelter. The learning center helps guests gain critical vocational skills, math and English skills to help prepare men and women to find work and become contributing members of society.