Up2Us Sports Partners with Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation To Invest In Meaningful Change In Local Youth

Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation becomes Up2Us Sports’ First Regional Partner in Los Angeles with a multi-year alliance aimed at helping youth living in underserved communities reach their potential on and off the field.

(New York, NY and Los Angeles, CA, March 27, 2019) -  Up2Us Sports, the nationwide leader in engaging, training and supporting sports coaches to transform youth, programs and communities, today announced a three-year Regional Partnership with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) to identify, place and train Up2Us Sports AmeriCorps coaches in youth sports programs to deepen the impact of sports-based youth development in the local market.

“The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation has always shown a great commitment to transforming the lives of youth, and we’re honored that they’ve turned to us to amplify their efforts,” said Paul Caccamo, Founder and CEO of Up2Us Sports. “We both understand that sport is a proven vehicle for healing. This partnership is answering the call for those youth living with challenges and we look to provide real life skills to aid in their growth.”

Throughout the three-year partnership, LADF’s investment of $1 million will help Up2Us Sports recruit, train and place over 250 coaches in underserved communities across Los Angeles by giving young men and women from the local community the opportunity to serve as mentors and coaches to 20,000 youth.

LADF’s Dodgers RBI program (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities), dedicated to increasing participation in the sport and using sports as an engagement tool to increase education, literacy, health, wellness and recreational resources, will be bolstered by 90 of the new Up2Us Sports coaches, while additional coaches will be placed throughout city parks, related nonprofits and schools across Los Angeles. This year LADF has assigned 15 coaches as Dodgers RBI Field Champions designed to help build capacity for its partners at 85 locations serving 10,500 kids this year. Field Champions will ensure increased communication between LADF and its program partners and increased youth participation in all aspects of the Dodgers RBI program.

“As we embark on our 6th season of Dodgers RBI, we are thrilled to be adding Up2Us Sports to our growing list of partners, all focused on youth development through sport,” said Nichol Whiteman, Chief Executive Officer of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation. “Up2Us Sports has demonstrated great success of empowering sports programs with an emphasis on the physical and mental health of youth through coaching and mentorship. We look forward to their support in our Dodgers RBI program and are proud to be their first Regional Partner, ensuring transformative sports experiences through coaches for hundreds of children in Los Angeles.”

The coaches will be equipped with more than 30 hours of cutting-edge youth development, mentoring and trauma-informed strategies to better prepare them to serve as Up2Us Sports AmeriCorps coaches and be positive influences to youth.

“Being a coach extends far beyond the field. You’re a role model, a mentor and someone who can make a difference in a young person’s life and help keep them on the right path,” said Dodger Manager Dave Roberts. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without the guidance, advice and tough love from coaches throughout my baseball career, and I’m grateful to have had such impactful mentors in my life.”

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For Media Inquiries:
Mario Argote
212-563-3031
margote@up2ussports.org

Jon Chapper
323-224-1301
JonC@ladodgers.com