DODGERS FOUNDATION AND UP2US SPORTS INVEST IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES
March 29, 2019
The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation has announced a three-year regional partnership with Up2Us Sports in an effort to support Los Angeles youth. A $1 million investment from the Dodgers Foundation will go towards recruiting and training 250 coaches to be placed in youth community programs.
The Dodgers Foundation has been using baseball and softball to promote positive change in Los Angeles since it began in 1995. The partnership with Up2Us Sports, a nationwide leader in engaging, training and supporting community coaches, will center around the Dodgers RBI (Rebuilding Baseball in Inner Cities) youth program.
RBI works to increase access to education, literacy, health and wellness, and recreational resources in underserved communities.
“We believe it’s our responsibility to take care of the fans surrounding Dodgers Stadium and in the Los Angeles area the way they take care of our team,” said Nichol Whiteman, Dodgers Foundation Executive Director. “We hope every child in Los Angeles has the ability to thrive no matter what neighborhood or zip code they live in and that is really important for us.”
Coaches will be equipped with more than 30 hours of youth development mentoring and trauma-informed strategies before being immersed in the community. Serving nearly 450,000 youth by placing more than 2,300 coaches across the United States, Up2Us Sports also has regional partnerships with the Chicago White Sox, Miami Heat and Baltimore Ravens.
In Los Angeles, the group has 40 coaches on the ground at approximately 20 sites. With this new regional partnership, that number will increase to roughly 75 coaches this year. The program currently serves between 4,000 to 5,000 youth per year, which will increase to more than 10,000 over the next year.
“To be associated with the Dodgers and their foundation is such a privilege for us because of what they stand for,” said Andy Schwich, Up2Us Sports Los Angeles City Director. “They’re so much more than baseball and softball. That’s why we felt so comfortable aligning with them and developing this partnership. The marriage between us is one that reflects the same values, vision, goals and impact.
The Dodgers recently held an orientation event at Dodgers Stadium for 15 of their coach-mentors who will join their RBI program. Each spoke to the impact baseball, softball or sports had on their lives and how they hope to use the same learnings to influence the next generation.
“We are so excited because we aren’t just putting people out there into the community but people with stories about how sports have influenced them and who look like and reflect the kids we serve,” Whiteman said. “We’re really investing in people to be able to help our youth achieve all we know they can.”
Beyond Sport is excited to bring Innovation to Los Angeles this year, with Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, a new partner for us who is doing exciting work in this field connecting science and baseball.