Dodgers launch COVID-19 relief efforts in LA
LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers, the Dodgers Foundation and iHeartMedia Los Angeles have partnered with a broad swath of local businesses and charities to provide critical donations to support local COVID-19 relief efforts for the area’s most vulnerable populations and healthcare workers.
Kicking off on Tuesday, California Pizza Kitchen will provide a total of 200 pizzas to staff at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Westwood and UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica. Similar relief will be provided by other partners through the month of April.
Relief efforts will bring together in-kind and monetary donations from the Dodgers, Dodgers Foundation, team partners, players and fans. The club will direct the support to the organizations that need it most, providing more than 100,000 meals and $100,000 of in-kind donations.
The Dodgers Foundation on Wednesday launched a special auction at Dodgers.com/Relief to support local COVID-19 relief efforts. The auction runs through April 19 at 5 p.m. PT, and it features autographed jerseys from the 2020 Dodgers roster, including Mookie Betts, Cody Bellinger, Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, Justin Turner, Corey Seager and more. It also includes game-used Max Muncy and Enrique Hernández jerseys from games in which the players homered.
Initial grants will be directed to the Los Angeles Food Bank, My Friend’s Place and the Mayor’s Fund of Los Angeles. Additional funds raised will be directed to similar organizations with substantial need.
Initial in-kind donations will include food, hygiene necessities, clothing and promotional items distributed to the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Grab & Go Food Centers, the Dream Center and homeless shelters in partnership with City of LA Department of Recreation and Parks. Additional donations will be provided to healthcare workers at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica and affiliated UCLA Health medical facilities.
Dodgers sponsors joining these efforts include: ARCO, California Pizza Kitchen, Dasani, Dunkin’ Brands of Southern California, Farmer John, Gatorade, Jack in the Box, Levy Restaurants, Mastercard, Postmates, Smart & Final Charitable Foundation and Southern California McDonald’s.