Main League Baseball introduced in a press launch on Monday that Mookie Betts has been chosen because the Dodgers’ nominee for the 2024 Roberto Clemente Award offered by Capital One, which is broadly considered the best particular person honor within the sport.
The Roberto Clemente Award, sponsored by Capital One, honors a Main League participant who exemplifies the spirit of baseball by way of distinctive character, group service, philanthropy, and constructive impacts each on and off the sector.
Every MLB group selects one participant yearly to be thought-about for this league-wide accolade, celebrating Roberto Clemente’s legacy and values. This marks Betts’ first time being nominated for this distinguished award.
“Group work and serving to others has all the time been necessary to me,” stated Betts. “I by no means search for recognition as a result of I really feel prefer it’s a requirement for all of us to assist others in want. I simply try to be the perfect I can to everybody and hope that it’s significant. Nonetheless, to be nominated and acknowledged for my dedication to the group and people round me is certainly an honor and leaves me inspired to maintain going.”
In 2021, Betts and his spouse Brianna launched the 5050 Basis with a transparent objective: “Overcome obstacles that stop youngsters from reaching their full potential, particularly these going through medical and monetary challenges.” The inspiration is constructed round 4 core values that replicate Mookie Betts’ ideas: psychological and emotional well-being, correct diet, monetary training, and bodily health.
Betts additionally launched “50 Feeds LA” in 2021 in collaboration with the Los Angeles Dodgers Basis, contributing over $300,000 to offer meals for 1000’s in South L.A. In 2023, he helped distribute Thanksgiving meals to 1,500 households at Algin Sutton Leisure Middle. The identical yr, the 5050 Basis launched the annual Mookie Betts + Associates Bowling Match, with funds supporting discipline enhancements at Jackie Robinson’s highschool, John Muir.
Betts and his basis have additionally been energetic at UCLA Youngsters’s Hospital, establishing the “Betts on Us Fund” to help households with pediatric healthcare prices. They partnered with Crete Academy to deliver over 700 underserved youth to a Dodger recreation and hosted a monetary literacy workshop at Dodger Stadium.
Moreover, Betts based “Workforce Mookie” in Nashville, the place his 16U basketball group gained the EYBL Championship League Title. He stays engaged with Dodgers group packages, mentoring Make-A-Want individuals, visiting native college students, and taking part in initiatives just like the Dodgers Love LA Group Tour, Juneteenth occasions, Black Heritage Night time, and Jackie Robinson Day.
The Dodgers plan to honor Betts on the sector earlier than their recreation in opposition to the Colorado Rockies on Friday, Sept. 20.
Photograph Credit score: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Pictures
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