One of the Dodgers’ Dreamfields is located in Pan Pacific Park. (photo by Edwin Folven)

The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation has been announced as a recipient of a Sport for Reduced Racial Inequalities Collective Impact Award, supported by the DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation.

The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation is being recognized for programs that address social inequities and invest in solutions driven by the community. The foundation places particular focus on projects supporting education, health care, homelessness and youth development.

The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation and Beyond Sport is bringing together a group of community sports organizations to collaborate in finding the best ways to harness sports to address racial inequities and support Black communities.

The LADF is among organizations selected nationwide for honors and investments to further their programs.

“We are thrilled to be recognized with a Collective Impact Award for our outstanding work in using baseball to address racial inequality in Los Angeles,” LADF CEO Nichol Whiteman said.

The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation takes pride in championing racial equity through Dodgers Dreamfields and Dodgers RBI, making baseball and softball more accessible to racial and ethnic minority youth by refurbishing dilapidated fields in underserved areas. They also deliver health care, educational resources and trauma-informed coaching approaches to create healing environments for some of Los Angeles’ most vulnerable youth.

The foundation has given $15 million to over 100 community-based organizations and programs, which have in turn helped over 230,000 youths.

“We recognize that our local communities have an increased risk of illness and economic despair based simply on the color of their skin and zip code,” Whiteman said. “Our goal is to give these families the same opportunities as our wealthiest.”

“This award and collaboration with like-minded organizations gives us the chance to make an even greater impact in California, and hopefully, across the nation,” he added.

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