Joe Kelly, Brianna Betts, A-List celebrities, and supporters all gathered in the Dodger Stadium Centerfield Plaza to join in the festive holiday party!
By Angela Redding | Los Angeles, CA | Hollywood Beat magazine | December 13, 2023
Lead Photo: Diana Castro – Additional Photos: Diana Castro, Hollywood Beat magazine and Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Baby2Baby
A nice surprise was in store for the boys and girls from various local schools in the Los Angeles area on Wednesday, December 13th, between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. A spectacular celebration was held at Dodger Stadium to usher in the holiday season, offering all the children engaged a taste of Christmas ahead of time.
This year, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF), and Baby2Baby teamed up once more to put together a fun Christmas celebration at Dodger Stadium. Students from KIPP SoCal Public Schools, Para Los Niños, and the Los Angeles Unified School District attended the event.
Due to the generous support of Nordstrom and FRAME, the students experienced an incredible day full of fun activities.
Nichol Whiteman, CEO of the Dodgers Foundation, expressed her pride in being present at Dodger Stadium today. She mentioned the partnership with Baby2Baby and the Dodgers’ community relations partners. This year, they are excited to welcome 600 students from Para Los Ninos and KIPP Charter Schools. The aim is to provide them with the necessary essentials to make their holidays more enjoyable. Whiteman emphasized their gratitude for having the opportunity to do this every year alongside amazing partners. She also referred to Dodger Stadium as their own version of Disneyland.
A Winter Wonderland of Fun
Centerfield Plaza at Dodger Stadium was transformed into a wintry wonderland, and guests rotated between exciting stations throughout the day to make sure everyone had an opportunity to partake in each one. Groups of students were laughing, playing, running the bases, practicing outfield fielding, getting their photo taken with old St. Nick, sharing their Christmas wishes with Santa, and sledding down a snow hill while Christmas music played in the background.
Joe Kelly, one of the pitchers for the Dodgers, was compelled to join in on the fun.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 13: Joe Kelly attends the 2023 Baby2Baby Holiday Distribution presented by FRAME & Nordstrom at Dodger Stadium on December 13, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Baby2Baby)
During lunch in the pavilion bleachers, students had a wonderful time as well.
A Display of Love from Baby2Baby, The Dodgers, Celebrities, and Supporters
In an effort to bring much-needed holiday cheer and assist with the distribution of goods and other supplies, celebrities and supporters of Baby2Baby, such as Chrissy Teigen, John Legend, Lori Harvey, Ellen Pompeo, Molly Sims, Rachel Zoe, Chriselle Lim, Monique Lhuillier, Joe Kelly, and Brianna Betts, the wife of Mookie Betts, were present to greet the students. Everyone gave of their time.
Students were given necessities that they might not ordinarily have at this time of year, like warm clothes, winter coats, soap, shampoo, toys, and more, as a special gift.
It’s important to note that, since 2020, LADF has given an astounding $365,000 to Baby2Baby, guaranteeing that the residents of Los Angeles have access to essential necessities.
“The holidays are always a challenging time of year for the families we serve, and their circumstances have become even more dire with rising costs and inflation,” shared Baby2Baby Co-CEOs Norah Weinstein and Kelly Sawyer Patricof. “For parents who are living paycheck to paycheck and already making impossible choices like whether to buy food or diapers for their babies, providing anything extra for their children at the holidays is not an option. We are so thrilled to be back at Dodger Stadium for this extraordinary event and give students the essentials they need to thrive along with the magical holiday experience they deserve.”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 13: (L-R) Kelly Sawyer Patricof, Co-CEO, Baby2Baby and Norah Weinstein, Co-CEO, Baby2Baby, attend the 2023 Baby2Baby Holiday Distribution presented by FRAME & Nordstrom at Dodger Stadium on December 13, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Baby2Baby)
Coming Together for a Great Cause
Together, Nordstrom and FRAME presented the event, making this remarkable day a reality for the second year in a row.
“We are so proud of our long-term partnership with Baby2Baby, supporting families and children in need,” said Erik Torstensson and Jens Grede, co-founders of FRAME.
“Nordstrom is committed to supporting the communities we serve, and we are proud to partner with Baby2Baby for their annual holiday distribution event,” said Gigi Ganatra Duff, Nordstrom’s Vice President of PR and Corporate Affairs.
Learn More About These Two PowerHouses
The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation:
The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) aims to address the urgent issues in Los Angeles by striving to enhance education, healthcare, homelessness, and social justice for all residents of Los Angeles. LADF envisions a city where everyone, regardless of their location, has equal opportunities to succeed.
Baby2Baby:
Baby2Baby is a non-profit organization that operates nationwide. It offers essential items like diapers, formula, clothing, and other basic necessities to children in need. This organization serves over one million children in all 50 states annually. Kelly Sawyer Patricof and Norah Weinstein are the Co-CEOs leading this initiative.
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