Dodgers Opening Day 2018 and The #PlayForAll Movement
By Renata Simril, President & CEO, LA84 Foundation
Today is Opening Day.
As a third–generation Angelino, born with Dodger Blue running through my veins, as you read this, I’ll be heading over to Dodger Stadium, our gorgeous civic treasure, our warm and communal cathedral of sport. I’ll be joining the crowd to welcome in a new season; to cheer for our city, our togetherness, our team; and for the good health, equal opportunity, and fair play of all athletes on the diamond — and everywhere else athletes do their work.
To some, this off-season might have been a time for rest. Not for the Dodger organization and not for us. And not for so many of our youth sport partners like the Dodgers Foundation who’ve joined the #PlayForAll Movement.
There’s no off-season when it comes to this community, and no off-season when it comes to working together to solve the crisis hiding in plain sight: that not all youth have access to sport and structured play.
The last time I was at the Stadium for a game was November 1st — Game 7 of the 2017 World Series. At 9:00pm that night in front of more than 55,000 stunned fans, including me, the home team saw their championship dreams fall agonizingly short against the Houston Astros. In that moment, though, a silver lining emerged even for this True Blue Dodgers fan.
As the Astros euphorically sprinted to the mound after the final out, I also witnessed the power of sport on full display in the stands, where complete strangers were comforting each other. “We’ll be back and stronger next year,” I heard one fan declare. After a 162-game season plus playoffs, I saw Dodgers players with their hands over their teammate’s shoulders. They lost, but they lost with dignity.For you see, the Dodgers have built a community-wide support system around an exciting young roster, a team that is now back and looking stronger than ever. This experience made me reflect on the work that we do at the LA84 Foundation, and how powerful our impact is in communities where kids often do not have the opportunity to pursue their athletic dreams.
Just as Dodger Stadium harnessed the power of fans showing up to cheer on their squad, so too do LA84 and our partners come together as a team. We are collaborating not only here in LA, but across the country to Close the Play Equity Gap and drive the #PlayForAll Movement so we can make sure every kid has the chance to build a life ready through sport. It takes a team effort to support the next generation of Dodgers, Astros, MLB commissioners, team presidents and aspirational youth who just need someone to believe in them.
Sport has an uncanny ability to unite us all in both times of triumph and tribulation. It teaches you how to win with class, not wither in defeat, and always strive to be our best self. You learn that if you fail seven times, you can get up eight. You have coaches who make sure you know that whether you win or lose, the important part is in knowing that you battled through the last pitch.
That support system is essential to kids in underserved communities. Sport empowers them to find a positive support network, resources, and develop the skills to help overcome the obstacles they face in life. Sport is there through the good and bad. For example, at the LA84 Foundation, the youth development organization where I am the President & CEO, partners with the Dodgers Foundation to build Dodgers Dreamfields for the youth of this region who need fields the most. Dreamfields #48 and #49 had their groundbreakings 10 days ago. We also applaud and support the work of the Dodger Foundation to provide access and opportunity to nearly 10,000 young people through their RBI program. Like us, their work is bigger than just baseball. Whether the World Series or an RBI tournament in Inglewood, there is just something about the power of sport.
Today, Opening Day, is a perfect time for each of us to renew our commitment to use sports to drive positive change. And, of course, to clap and yell, “It’s time for Dodgers baseball!”
Renata Simril is the President and CEO of the LA84 Foundation.
