The Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB and Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) unveiled the 2022 All-Star Legacy initiative that focuses on addressing equity gaps in sports-based youth development, education, homelessness and military veterans’ issues.
Following the 92nd Midsummer Classic, and in combination with the 2020 All-Star Legacy commitment, MLB, the Dodgers and LADF will have contributed more than $6 million to benefit non-profit organizations throughout the greater Los Angeles area.
The 2022 All-Star Legacy effort will support students from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Los Angeles, youth and coaches via sports-based youth development mentorship organizations, food and essential day-to-day needs of families through the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and Baby2Baby, and homeless veterans through Volunteers of America Los Angeles.
Various All-Star Legacy programs will be commemorated from Friday, July 15, through Monday, July 18. Since 1997, MLB and host teams have donated approximately $100 million through the All-Star Legacy initiative.
2022 All-Star Legacy projects
The Dodgers, MLB and LADF are establishing an All-Star Legacy scholarship fund that will provide $10,000 scholarships to 10 recipients for its inaugural year, and 75 additional scholarships in the future.
They will support academic expenses at two- or four-year universities in Southern California and be administered by the California Community Foundation. The inaugural scholarships will be awarded to graduating seniors from the Boys & Girls Clubs Metro LA in the College Bound and Future Pathways programs.
In effort to address root causes of homelessness, 4 million meals and 127,000 essential items will be provided to local youth and families living in poverty. The program will support 3,000 students and their families who will receive items weekly at 15 Los Angeles school locations during the 2022-2023 academic year.
Funds will allow for the purchase of food that is nutritionally balanced and kid-friendly that will be sent home with students on Fridays in order to provide meals for the weekend. The weekend kit also includes nutrition education and handouts for the children and their families that stress the importance of maintaining a balanced diet while facing food insecurity.
Each student in the program additionally will receive a Baby2Baby basic essentials kit to take home to their families that includes resources such as hygiene items, soap and PPE supplies.
MLB, the Dodgers and LADF additionally are making a multi-year investment in enhancing and expanding the quality of sports-based youth development programming in Los Angeles communities by supporting increased coaching mentorship roles as well as training and recruitment efforts.
Goals are to expand paid coach mentor positions from 30 to 75 by 2025, recruit 1,500 coaches by 2024, train 1,500 coaches in trauma sensitive sports-based youth development practices by 2024, and develop a first-of-its-kind coach playbook.
Organizations that will be involved in the efforts include Up2Us Sports (coach mentor partner), Center for Healing and Justice Through Sport (curriculum and training partner), Positive Coaching Alliance (training and recruitment partner) and Dodgers Training Academy (training partner). The project is also supported by Nike.
Lastly, the All-Star Legacy initiative will support a renovation of the “Transition House” (T-House), a 20,000 square foot facility operating in Downtown L.A. (in the heart of Skid Row). The T-House provides intensive wraparound services to successfully transition more than 80 individuals at a time.
Each receives three meals a day and individualized services plans to ensure a successful transition to longer-term permanent supportive housing.
To improve the quality of life for T-House veterans, the $500,000 renovation investment will feature a complete overhaul of the living quarters, including installing privacy partitions so each veteran has their own dedicated space with electrical outlets and improved beds.
The project also will renovate and modernize the commercial kitchen, laundry facility, outdoor community space (which includes new BBQ stations and workout equipment) and will install a mural to beautify the property and create a more inviting environment for all residents and guests.
The renovation of the main community room and dining area is being renovated by the Justin Turner Foundation.
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