LA Dodgers Dream Team Serves 17,000 Youth Across 156 Locations in 2026

The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation announced on April 1, 2026, that its Dream Team youth baseball and softball program will serve 17,000 children across 156 locations this year, a 13% increase over the 15,000 young athletes served in 2025. The free program is one of the largest Major League Baseball community initiatives in the country.

Nichol McKenzie-Whiteman, the foundation's chief executive, said Dream Team was built to remove financial, geographic and cultural barriers to playing sports, especially in neighborhoods with few public fields or organized leagues. Every participant receives a uniform, equipment and coaching at no cost, and families can register online without the paperwork or fees that can push youth sports out of reach.

In 2026 the foundation is also launching a $10,000 Legacy Scholarship to support Dream Team alumni pursuing higher education, extending the program's impact beyond the ball field. New partnerships with school districts, community centers and nonprofits across Los Angeles County are bringing sites to neighborhoods that had no program last year, including several in South Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley.

Research consistently shows that youth sports participation improves mental health, school engagement and long-term health, but access has been shrinking for low-income families. By pairing free play with academic support, mentorship and now scholarships, the Dodgers Foundation is positioning Dream Team as a pipeline of opportunity — not only for the next generation of ballplayers, but for the next generation of students and community leaders.