The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation hosted its annual Dodgers Dreamteam PlayerFest on Saturday.
PlayerFest is an experience for all Dodgers Dreamteam participants, their families, and coaches to come to Dodger Stadium and experience loads of amenities. Dodgers Dreamteam is a youth development program run by the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation.
The event offered vital resources and assistance to families involved in the Dodgers Dreamteam program, where 59% of families have an income below $40,000. Some of the resources that were available included food items from the L.A. Regional Food Bank, Dodger Dogs from Papa Cantella’s, Water from Dasani, UCLA Health screenings and eye exams from Vision to Learn.
Attendees took part in activities like baseball and softball instruction via the Dodgers Training Academy or coach recruitment opportunities from the Positive Coaching Alliance. The event also featured activations from the L.A. Department of Water and Power, L.A. Public Library, Los Angeles Football Club, L.A. Kings, Los Angeles Lakers, PlayLA, SoCal Gas and USC College Advising Corps.
Nichol Whiteman, CEO of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation said the LADF has created the event over time.
“We’ve built something really special over the last 11 years that is really based on education, health care, homelessness, and social justice… We’re really tryna show up for the communities that need us the most,” Whiteman said. “We envision a city where every Angeleno has an opportunity to thrive, particularly our Dodgers Dreamteam program which is at 99 locations throughout cities like Compton, Inglewood, East Los Angeles, and even Long Beach.”
Attendees had access to Centerfield Plaza, the warning track, bullpens, and the Dodger dugout. They also had the opportunity to take pictures with the 2020 World Series trophy and tour the stadium.
Maria Arias, senior vice president of Community Relations at Bank of America said it’s great having kids come to Dodger Stadium.
“It’s always exciting when Dodger Stadium becomes a playground for thousands of youth to have fun, learn, and receive vital access to resources every Angeleno deserves,” Arias said. “We’re proud to once again rally behind the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation with our more than 250 local Bank of America employees who volunteer to make this year’s PlayerFest the best yet.”
Over 10,000 youth participants and their families were invited and the Dreamteam program has served over 13,000 youth across Los Angeles, an increase of 18% over 2023.
“We, throughout the years, show up for so many different communities and where they are in their neighborhoods,” Whiteman said. “We like to meet people where they’re at and bring them the Dodger love and the resources and the services that come with the Dodgers Dreamteam program.”