On Thursday night, Dodger players flocked to Dodger Stadium to support the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation for the sixth annual Blue Diamond Gala, switching their uniforms for more formal clothing.
The event, which featured an exclusive concert by Jennifer Lopez and was hosted by LADF and presented by LADF chairman Mark Walter and the Dodgers ownership group, raised a record-breaking $3.6 million to support LADF’s mission to improve education, health care, homelessness, and social justice in Los Angeles.
After the epidemic prohibited the star-studded event from taking place the previous two years, the gala took on new meaning this year.
“It means a lot to us to come back here,” said Nichol Whiteman, CEO of the LADF. “We had enormous plans for 2020, and the last gala was in June 2019.” Tonight is a celebration of the efforts of so many different people.”
To begin the evening, players, coaches, alumni, commentators, and celebrities walked the blue carpet. Many players and coaches brought their wives or significant others to the event, and they appreciated the opportunity to spend time with their colleagues and loved ones for a good cause in the middle of a busy baseball season.
Champions Night
Justin Turner stated, “It’s vital to acknowledge our community, our supporters, and everything that’s going on surrounding this amazing stadium.”
According to Dodgers, The evening kicked out with a pre-show party that included a DJ D-Nice set and an “Everyday Champions” program hosted by Mario Lopez and Adrián González.
“Tonight, we’re honoring our ‘Everyday Champions,’ who we consider heroes in Los Angeles — those individuals on the ground who didn’t go home when the pandemic struck, who didn’t have the opportunity to take time off or get out of town and showed up in their communities and made sure that people were fed, that kids continued to receive academic services, that food was distributed, and children continued to receive some haven in some form or fashion when the pandemic struck.
