SAN DIEGO -- The Padres and starting pitcher Yu Darvish have partnered to make one of the largest contributions in Padres history to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego.
The contribution, which was announced on Sunday morning, was designated as a Peter Seidler Legacy Fund Project in honor of the beloved late Padres owner. Per the team’s release, the donation will significantly impact youth programming focused on health, education and character building.
“Being all in for San Diego means being all in for its young people,” new Padres owners Kwanza Jones and José E. Feliciano said in a statement. “Young people represent possibility. Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego create opportunity. When possibility meets opportunity, lives can change and entire communities can grow stronger. That's the kind of impact this investment can create in San Diego. We're proud to build on Peter Seidler's legacy alongside Yu by investing in what's possible for young San Diegans.”
The Boys and Girls Clubs also announced the renaming of their Clairemont location to “the San Diego Padres Branch.” Opened in 1961, the Clairemont location served 3,438 youth last year, with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego serving more than 22,000.
“This is a transformational moment for our organization,” president and CEO of Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego Michelle Malin said in the statement. "Thanks to this remarkable investment, we will be able to enhance our facilities, elevate our programming and create an environment where children can discover their potential, build confidence and succeed. The impact of this partnership will be felt not only today, but for generations of young people who will walk through our doors in the years ahead.”
Jones and Feliciano were introduced as new Padres owners in a press conference last month and spoke extensively about their desire to impact the community in San Diego, building on the legacy of Peter Seidler and the Seidler family. Darvish, meanwhile, has been extremely active in the Padres community across his six seasons with the organization.
“Not only is San Diego the home of the Padres, but it is my home, too,” Darvish said in a video released by the Boys and Girls Clubs. “I am honored to make this gift, alongside the Padres, to the Boys and Girls Clubs. I invite you to join our team and invest in this opportunity. Your support will help change lives.”