by Erin Edwards
When Clayton Kershaw takes the mound at Dodger Stadium for his final regular season start on Friday, fans will be on their feet to honor one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history.
His achievements are staggering — three Cy Young Awards, an MVP, two World Series championships and over 3,000 strikeouts across an 18-year career.
But Kershaw’s legacy in Los Angeles extends far beyond the game.
To Angelenos, he isn’t just a Dodger great. He is a neighbor, a partner and a champion for youth and families across the city.
Since 2015, Kershaw and Kershaw’s Challenge have invested over $1.4 million in the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation’s (LADF) programs and initiatives.
Building Fields, Building Futures
Through his foundation, Kershaw’s Challenge, Clayton and his wife Ellen have partnered with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) to build nine Dodgers Dreamfields in Los Angeles County.
From Nickerson Gardens in Watts to Algin Sutton Recreation Center, these fields are more than just places to play baseball — they’re safe, vibrant community hubs where kids can dream bigger, build friendships and feel a sense of belonging.
Each field stands as a testament to Kershaw’s belief that every child deserves a space to grow, regardless of their ZIP code.
Equipping the Next Generation
Clayton has also been a driving force behind Dodgers Dreamteam, helping to provide more than 22,000 jerseys so kids have home and away uniforms — small details that make them feel like the professionals they look up to. For thousands of players across Los Angeles, slipping on those jerseys is a symbol of pride, access and opportunity.
Inspiring Through Literacy
For years, Clayton and Ellen have been fixtures in libraries and classrooms, during storytimes through LADF and the Dodgers’ LA Reads program to bring books to life for local kids.
Most recently, LADF partnered with Clayton’s sister-in-law, Ann Higginbottom, to share her children’s book Bigger Than Me. Together, they reminded students that life’s purpose stretches beyond a single game or moment — an idea that mirrors Clayton’s own journey.
Rallying for Community
Clayton’s impact has also been deeply felt in times of hardship.
- Wildfire Relief: The Kershaw family collected and delivered semi-trucks full of supplies from Dallas to Los Angeles and contributed $100,000 to support LADF’s Weekend Essentials program.
- Pandemic Support: They sent critical supplies to drive-through distributions, ensuring families had what they needed during uncertain times.
- Back-to-School Bash: For seven consecutive years, LADF has partnered with Kershaw’s Challenge at the LA Dream Center Back-to-School Festival, providing thousands of youth with backpacks, school supplies and essentials to start the year prepared.
Championing Racial Justice
Clayton was the first player to step up for LADF’s In This Together campaign. He listened to youth voices, wore the campaign T-shirt and helped fundraise for grassroots Black- and Brown-led organizations advancing racial justice.
He and Ellen have personally matched community fundraising efforts, ensuring resources reach organizations driving transformational change. Together, they’ve invested $360,000 in Liberty Hill’s California Funders for Boys & Men of Color through this partnership.
A Lasting Legacy
The roar of Dodger Stadium will be deafening when Clayton throws his final pitch. But for the thousands of children who have fields to play on, jerseys to wear and opportunities to learn and thrive, his legacy will echo long after the cheers fade.
Clayton is retiring not only as one of the greatest Dodgers of all time, but also as one of Los Angeles’ most enduring champions — on and off the field.
To learn more about the incredible work of Kershaw’s Challenge, visit kershawschallenge.com.
Clayton Kershaw: A champion on and off the field was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.