The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation announced more than $1 million in grants is being awarded to support organizations that provide for communities that have been impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Back in March, the LADF suspended all youth events hosted at Dodger Stadium and off-site, and additionally extended their deadline to apply for grants from April to May 1. Last year the Dodgers Foundation awarded a record $1.93 million in grants to 111 nonprofit organizations in core funding areas.
Grantmaking to-date includes 61% being provided to address homelessness, foster care and food insecurity; and 28% to education, including providing access to technology. Among the beneficiaries are Kershaw’s Challenge and The Dream Center, which recently partnered for a seventh annual Back to School Bash event.
“Our nonprofit partners are on the ground doing significant work to uplift neglected communities,” LADF CEO Chaitali Gala Mehta said.
“The impact of the pandemic and ongoing racial injustice has redirected our charitable dollars in 2020 to organizations that are supporting Angelenos in dire need. Our commitment to investing in local nonprofits continues during a time when every dollar counts.”
Grants to new nonprofit partners will help provide services for transition-age youth, foster youth, and families experiencing homelessness. Renewed grants include supports for teachers and low-income students as they navigate distance learning.
Recently awarded grants by LADF
• Great Public Schools Now (One Family L.A.): $15,000 to provide direct financial assistance to cover basic necessities to 40 families who have experienced a hardship due to COVID-19.
• The Not Impossible Foundation (Hunger Not Impossible): $10,500 to provide 1,500 meals for Dodgers RBI families in Compton facing food insecurity.
• Minds Matter LA: $20,000 to support college access and success programming for 140 high-achieving students who face significant barriers to their educational success.
• Teach for America LA: $20,000 to support over 190 corps member teachers, impacting over 40,000 youth through distance learning.
• Students Run LA (and The Civics Center): $20,000 to support civic engagement through voter registration for 3,000 high school students and their communities.
• New Earth Organization: $15,000 to support juvenile reentry, education programming, and wrap-around services for 100 underserved youth ages 13-25.
• Extraordinary Families: $15,000 to support Up4Youth in caring for 100 vulnerable current and former foster youth as they make the critical transition to adulthood and self-sufficiency.
• McKinley Children’s Center: $10,000 to provide devices such as Chromebooks and educational licenses for 160 abused, abandoned and neglected youth through distance learning and wrap-around services.
• Friends of the Children Los Angeles: $10,000 to support mentorship and basic essentials for 108 youth affected by the foster care system.
• LA Family Housing: $15,000 to provide food, clothing and basic necessities for 400 families experiencing homelessness.
• Kershaw’s Challenge (and the Dream Center): $10,000 to provide backpacks, school supplies, and basic essentials to 3,700 youth.
• The ALLIANCE (Play Equity Fund): $500,000 to support the Play Equity Fund to advocate for social justice, address disparities, and take actions to help end racial inequality.
An additional $98,000 in immediate relief funds were granted to Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Brotherhood Crusade, My Friend’s Place, Baby2Baby and Library Foundation of Los Angeles.
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