Bringing Stories to the Baseball Field with Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation
More than 100 Think Together students from Colton Joint Unified School District gathered at Dodgers Dreamfield #61 in Blair Park in San Bernardino for a special storytime event with former Los Angeles Dodgers player Derrel Thomas.
Hosted by the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) in partnership with Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, the event marked another chapter in a longstanding partnership that has brought literacy, STEM, college and career readiness, and other learning opportunities to Think Together students.
As families arrived, volunteers handed students books, Los Angeles Dodgers merchandise, and a commemorative bobblehead, setting the stage for an afternoon to remember. Thomas then took the mic to a warm welcome from the crowd of young readers, families and baseball fans.
“It’s crazy to think that someone who used to play for the Dodgers would want to read to us,” said Valeria, a Think Together student. For Valeria and her classmates, the event was more than a story time. It was an opportunity to see the power of community and what can be made possible when people come together to make reading engaging and accessible.
According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as “the nation’s report card,” 29% of California students performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level in reading in 2024. Students who were identified as economically disadvantaged performed lower on average.
Since 2015, LADF has supported literacy and college-access programs, STEM and robotics, Coding for All, college and career readiness, social-emotional learning and LA Reads storytimes. The foundation has provided more than $140,000 in support for Think Together students across California.
Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation has also supported Think Together students across the Inland Empire through literacy, numeracy, STEM and coding opportunities. Together, LADF and Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation have helped bring resources, role models and new experiences into the communities where students live and learn.
“Dodgers Dreamfields are more than places to play baseball and softball. They are outdoor classrooms where young people can learn, grow and discover new possibilities,” said Nichol McKenzie Whiteman, CEO, Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation. “Partnership is the secret sauce that makes this work possible. By joining forces with organizations like Think Together and Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, we can bring education, literacy and unforgettable experiences directly into the communities we serve.”
