Charisse Bremond Weaver (photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation)

On May 21, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation awarded a one-time grant of $10,000 to the Brotherhood Crusade to provide internet access and technology hardware for 5,000 low-income families in South and East Los Angeles during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The grant was provided from the Dodgers and Dodgers Foundation COVID-19 Relief Efforts. This fund was created to raise money from fans, players and partners to support vulnerable populations who are experiencing homelessness, food insecurity, lack of basic needs and significant anxiety during this uncertain time.

“Our nonprofit partners have shared the significant lack of internet access and devices for youth and families as they try to engage in distance learning and community programs,” said Chaitali Gala Mehta, chief operating officer of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation. “By supporting amazing community leaders like the Brotherhood Crusade, we hope to narrow the digital divide that exists in our low-income communities and that has been exacerbated during this pandemic.”

“We are grateful to the Los Angeles Dodger Foundation for this grant which will support our continued and ongoing outreach during this pandemic to the neediest, most at-risk members of our community,” said Charisse Bremond Weaver, Brotherhood Crusade president and CEO. “The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation’s mission is bigger than baseball, envisioning a city where every young Angeleno, regardless of neighborhood, has the opportunity to thrive. This donation will allow us to provide technology for youth with computers, hotspots and headsets which will continue to level the playing field and help our youth thrive.”

The Brotherhood Crusade COVID-19 Community Rapid Response Fund was developed to help youth, young adults and families in this critical time to assist them with basic living, academic and household needs to assist our students while they are away from their schools and our YouthSource Center.

If companies, foundations or organizations are looking to help via unrestricted emergency funds or in-kind donations, such as monetary support for families facing financial hardship, gift cards for food and other necessary items needed to survive through the crisis, contact Weaver at cbremond@brotherhoodcrusade.org.

For information, visit mlb.com/dodgers/community/foundation.