Will Smith, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ All-Star catcher, was due to welcome 130 students from Marquez Charter Elementary School to UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, 26 May 2026. The Dodgers said the school was destroyed in the January 2025 Palisades wildfire, displacing hundreds of students, teachers and staff. The third annual Catching Hope Community Clinic, run with Will and Cara Smith’s Catching Hope Foundation, offered rotating stations covering STEM activities, arts and crafts, agility courses and Quick Ball. Each student sent home with a Dodger swag bag containing a Will Smith baseball card, a water bottle and a Nike jump rope.
What did Smith’s foundation do for the 130 Marquez students
According to an official press release published by Major League Baseball, the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Marquez Charter Elementary School was destroyed in the January 2025 Palisades wildfire. The fire displaced hundreds of students, teachers and staff, according to the press release. Students and staff have been learning in temporary structures since returning to their campus in the fall. It says the initiative supports ongoing efforts to rebuild, uplift and inspire the Marquez school community. According to the Dodgers, it does so by giving children hands-on experiences that promote wellness, creativity and joy.
What STEM activities were offered to the 130 students
The clinic featured rotating stations with STEM-based activities, arts and crafts, agility courses and Quick Ball. The Dodgers Training Academy and Playworks were set to join the clinic and assist with some of the on-field activities. Discovery Cube was returning for a second year to engage students in interactive STEM activities. Parker Anderson Enrichment, described as a new partner, was to lead the students in nutrition and cooking activities.
What did students receive in Will Smith’s Dodger swag bags
Blue Prints would be on site capturing photo keepsakes with the 2025 World Series trophy. It adds that Will Smith was sending each student home with a Dodger swag bag. Each bag included a special Will Smith baseball card, a water bottle and a Nike jump rope.The Catching Hope Foundation is an organisation that helps underprivileged youth develop the skills needed for leadership, self-advocacy, and self-sufficiency. It says the foundation works through partnerships with organisations in the Los Angeles and Louisville communities. The Dodgers are baseball’s 2024 and 2025 back-to-back World Champions, and the club has been recognised as ESPN’s Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year.
