The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) announced equality trailblazers Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss will be honored at its fifth Anniversary Blue Diamond Gala on Wednesday, June 12 at Dodger Stadium.
The social activists, tennis champions, and longtime partners, who joined the Dodgers ownership group last September, will be recognized for their ongoing commitment to creating positive change throughout sports.
“We are absolutely thrilled to be honoring such iconic and influential leaders, who have for the entirety of their careers, used their platforms to advocate for those who need it most,” Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation CEO Nichol Whiteman said.
“The work that Ms. King and Ms. Kloss do to enhance lives through sports, leadership and advocacy is perfectly aligned with our own ‘Bigger Than Baseball’ mentality, and we couldn’t think of a better way to honor their commitment than at our biggest celebration of the year!”
King and Kloss co-founded the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting equality and inclusion in the workplace. It advocates for equal pay for equal work and advancing equal representation in leadership roles.
The couple is also founding board members of the Elton John AIDS Foundation and each serves on the executive committee of the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF), which was founded by King in 1974.
Kloss is the managing partner of Billie Jean King Enterprises and the former CEO and Commissioner of World TeamTennis. She additionally serves on the executive board of the Tennis Industry Association and was named the Sports Businesswoman of the Year by the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center in 2007.
Recognition of the trailblazers adds to what already was shaping to be a star-studded Blue Diamond Gala. The evening will begin with Dodgers players and coaches and other attendees walking the blue carpet, followed by a dinner party, and then a concert from Grammy Award winner Bruno Mars.
Proceeds from the Blue Diamond Gala will directly impact LADF’s Dodgers RBI, and Dodgers Dreamfields programs. For tickets, sponsorship packages, and additional information on the Blue Diamond Gala, visit www.dodgers.com/gala.
