Dodgers Shows Gratitude: Mookie Betts and LA Foundation Host…

The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, Brotherhood Crusade and Mookie Betts’ 50/50 Foundation hosted their annual Thanksgiving Grab and Go! Basket distribution at the Algin Sutton Recreation Center on Thursday.

The event called for 1,500 families to receive turkeys, traditional fixings and gift cards to help prepare for the holiday next week.

“We’re really excited that we get to do this at Algin Sutton Recreation Center because it is the home of Dodgers Dream Fields Number One, and Dodgers Dream Fields 50 built by the Los Angeles Dodgers foundation,” Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation CEO Nichol Whiteman said.

Since 2018, LADF has provided Brotherhood Crusade with more than $500,000 in grants. This is the fourth year of the 50 Feeds LA Campaign, started in partnership with Betts’ 50/50 Foundation to address food insecurity.

The 50/50 Foundation partnered with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation to give $100,000 to support Brotherhood Crusade’s food insecurity efforts this year, providing 400,000 meals to families in South L.A.

“On the heels of the World Series and us being champions, I like to say yes, we are champions on the field, but we’re champions off the field, and that means that we continuously show up for community,” Whiteman said.

“So to do this with Mookie Betts, a player who is so philanthropic and so wanting to make sure that he shows up for community, is amazing. And to do it year over year is really fantastic. So to have Mookie out here today, the smiles that you would see on the cars driving by, the photos, everything, it’s just really been fantastic.”

Joining Betts to help distribute the Thanksgiving meals were his wife Brianna, mother Diana Benedict, and more family members.

“This community was here to support me during that tough time going through the playoffs and whatnot, so I think the most important most important thing is positive vibes,” Betts said. “I think positive vibes go a long way, and so we’re here doing that.”

Dodgers Foundation Thanksgiving meal giveaways

Earlier this week, the LADF also hosted their annual Thanksgiving turkey giveaway at Dodger Stadium with Anthony Banda, Tony Gonsolin and Landon Knack helping distribute meals to families during the drive through event. In addition, Dodgers alumni Manny Mota and Billy Ashley were also on hand to help.

They distributed 2,000 Thanksgiving meals to local families to help create a memorable holiday. The Dodgers worked with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) to identify households most in need, specifically those experiencing homelessness or extreme hardship, with assistance from LAUSD’s Homeless Education Program.