Earlier this month, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) hosted their final Dodgers Dreamteam day of the season, with Billy Ashley, Austin Barnes, Al Ferrara and Dennis Powell in attendance to sign autographs during the day of fun at Heartwell Park in Long Beach.
Barnes also assisted with distributing All-Star Game batting gloves by Franklin, and Dodgers Dreamteam players had access to a variety of services, including food resources, health screenings and other basic essentials for families in need.
“We had a great turnout and have been doing a lot of great things in the community. We’re passing out thousands of Franklin batting gloves to everybody that showed up,” Barnes said.
“I think it’s great to be able to interact with fans, especially since I’m from Southern California too. I was a little kid like them. To be able to see a baseball player maybe inspires them to one day become whatever they want to be.”
Fans also were invited to sign a write their favorite memories on a memorial banner for the late Vin Scully.
“We have had the honor of serving over 2,600 Angelenos in their own neighborhoods during this season’s Dodgers Dreamteam Dodger Days, who, because of various social injustices, struggle with basic needs,” LADF chief executive officer Nichol Whiteman said.
“LADF will continue to work year-round to expand awareness and utilization of services, resources, and education for those who need it most.
The endless work by the Dodgers Foundation is regularly supported by players joining their efforts to help deliver basic needs to local communities and bring smiles to children.
“They do an awesome job in the community,” Barnes said. “They reach out all over, and I think what they do for these kids gives them lifelong memories. It’s an awesome organization. Dodgers Dreamteam has been a really good thing.”
About Dodgers Dreamteam
Dodgers Dreamteam is a comprehensive, sports-based youth development program that leverages the power of sport to provide critical resources and services to communities that are experiencing social injustices. LADF works in partnership with 13 affiliate partners to deliver sports-based programming and services for 12,000 youth, and support communities and families across the city.
The youth program was previously known as Dodgers RBI, but was rebranded to Dodgers Dreamteam this past February with an unveiling at Dodger Stadium that included Magic Johnson.
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