LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) announced today that more than $1.1M has already been awarded in 2019 to local nonprofits with more funding still to be announced through December. As a result of its recent strategic planning process, LADF added new priorities to its grantmaking approach in the areas of Education + Literacy, Sports + Recreation and Health + Wellness.

Education + Literacy grants provide access, opportunity and innovation to youth at critical engagement stages - from kindergarten through college - through reading and STEM activities, foster care support services, middle school mentorship, and college scholarships and support.

Sports + Recreation grants support work that uses baseball and softball to build community and reinforce what it means to be a team. Grantees provide leadership opportunities and promote sports-based youth development through increased skills, and positive and safe places to play for youth with disabilities.

Health + Wellness grants address health challenges that prevent children from excelling in school or recreational activities, including food insecurity, fitness and healthy eating. Grants also support efforts to improve the mental and physical wellness of youth.

“We have the privilege of turning Dodger fans into funders who, through their 50/50 raffle and in-stadium fundraising participation, team up with us to award these amazing nonprofits with important funds to tackle the most significant problems facing the city of Los Angeles,” said Nichol Whiteman, LADF CEO. “We believe in opportunity, access, and equity, and, with the support of fans, we will continue to support impactful nonprofit programs to produce meaningful results on our fields, in our classrooms, and at our recreation centers.”

Recently awarded cycle two grants include:

• Para Los Niños - $15,000 to support the Reading is Leading program for 1,300 elementary students in 59 classrooms and the purchase of approximately 2,000 books for classroom libraries in Downtown, East Los Angeles and Koreatown

• I Have a Dream Foundation Los Angeles - $15,000 to support year-round college and career readiness programming for 500 underserved students in Boyle Heights, Watts and Inglewood

• Aquarium of the Pacific - $20,000 to support the Aquarium Scholarship Fund with high-quality STEM learning opportunities to 2,550 high school students from Title 1 schools in Long Beach and surrounding communities

• 826LA - $15,000 to support writing field trips for over 3,000 students from Title 1 schools in Echo Park and Northeast Los Angeles

• YMCA Metro LA - $15,000 to support Physical Learning Activities for Youth (PLAY) serving 3,912 students in LAUSD during the school day

• Danny's Farm - $5,000 to support field trips and mobile petting zoo excursions for low-income youth and youth with disabilities from Inglewood and South Los Angeles

• Common Threads - $20,000 to support afterschool healthy cooking and nutrition classes in six LAUSD Title 1 schools

• Students Run America (SRLA) - $15,000 to support Students Run LA race registration fees for middle and high school students throughout Los Angeles

• just keep livin Foundation - $30,000 to support afterschool fitness and wellness programming at Manual Arts High School and Animo Inglewood High School

In addition to grant awards, LADF activates with grantees, co-hosts grantee events, digitally showcases their work, and conducts “Giving Moments” in stadium to further highlight grantees to millions of fans throughout the season.

LADF accepts grant applications three times a year. Final program grants will be announced in December 2019. Visit dodgers.com/ladf to learn more about grant opportunities.

Founded in 1995 as the official charity of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation is bigger than baseball, envisioning a city where every young Angeleno, regardless of neighborhood, has the opportunity to thrive. For young Angelenos with limited access to education, sports and healthcare, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation is a champion that increases the quality of life and confidence of the people we serve by using our historic Dodger brand and the power of sport to run and fund proven programs — at a time when a quality education, youth sports and health care are increasingly reserved for the elite. With the support of partners, stakeholders and fans, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation produces incredible results on fields, in classrooms and at recreation centers, creating Major League Communities.