Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, Yasiel Puig, others break ground on 50th Dodgers Dreamfield

In 2003, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation pledged to create 50 Dreamfields over the span of 15 years for young Angelenos in the communities that needed them most. Monday afternoon, the foundation celebrated the groundbreaking of their 50th Dreamfield at Algin Sutton Recreation Center in South Los Angeles.

“It feels like a true celebration, a dream realized to be breaking ground on our 50th promised Dodgers Dreamfield,” LADF executive director Nichol Whiteman said. “To have so many partners involved for the last 15 years is really special.”

Dodgers star outfielder Yasiel Puig greets young athletes. (Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation)

The City of Los Angeles, Tyler Development Corporation, LA84 Foundation and Dodgers star outfielder Yasiel Puig all partnered with LADF to host the groundbreaking ceremony. Puig committed $50,000 and was joined by young athletes from his 66ers baseball team.

“Doing these things for the kids make me happy, now I can go to the stadium with a smile,” Puig said.

Excited today to be able to help my team’s @DodgersFdn in the refurbishment of their 50th field in the community of LA! There is no better feeling than to know I can contribute to the lives of children of generations to come as they take joy in playing baseball on this field! pic.twitter.com/BLeVU94zMG

— Yasiel Puig (@YasielPuig) July 30, 2018

Having Puig, one of the club’s best players, as a major community ambassador is a positive influence for all of the young people LADF aims to help.

“To have someone here who is telling them you can be everything you want to be, achieve anything you want to achieve, is really special for them,” Whiteman said.

Whiteman and Puig were joined by City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks General Manager Mike Shull, actor Dondré Whitfield, Tyler Development Corporation representative Calin Nomad, LA84 Foundation President and CEO Renata Simril on the podium for opening remarks.

Olympic softball player Natasha Watley, daughter of Algin Sutton Aleta Williams, Dodger Alumni Manny Mota, Dodgers Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) and youth baseball and softball players representing the community of Algin Sutton were also honored.

Renata Simril (left), Nichol Whiteman (center) and Natasha Watley (right) pose ahead of Monday’s groundbreaking ceremony. (Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation)

Algin Sutton Recreation Center was home to the first Dodgers Dreamfield, back in 2003. The LA84 Foundation has pursued 43 collaborations with the Dodgers, and have been with LADF since the start of the Dreamfield project.

“It’s a homecoming for the LA84 Foundation as well to culminate 15 years of work, investment and providing much needed infrastructure and programming for communities such as Algin Sutton with the Dodgers Foundation,” Simril said.

More than $10 million has been invested into Dodger Dreamfields. The 50th Dreamfield will be constructed in September, a project costing $300,000.

“While watching the Dodgers on the field brings the city so much happiness, it is their off the field work that makes them such a wonderful organization,” Nomad said.

Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Executive Director Nichol Whiteman speaks at 50th Dodgers Dreamfield Groundbreaking Ceremony. (Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation)

LADF is currently working on a plan, with hopes for it to be revealed in September, to share the future of the Dodgers Dreamfield project.

“We will continue to ensure that youth in the city of Los Angeles have safe and positive recreational places to play,” Whiteman said.

This story was produced through the HS Insider summer internship program which is supported by funding from LA84 Foundation.