Dodgers Nominated Will Smith for Roberto Clemente Award
The Los Angeles catcher was recognized for his philanthropic efforts with the Catching Hope Foundation.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Philanthropy
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The Los Angeles Dodgers have nominated Will Smith for the 2026 Roberto Clemente Award to honor his character and community work. Smith and his wife, Cara, founded the Catching Hope Foundation to support educational development for underprivileged children.
Why it matters
This nomination highlights the player's commitment to improving local educational outcomes through the Catching Hope Foundation. By partnering with area school districts, the organization works to install outdoor literacy spaces and foster leadership skills.
The Catching Hope Foundation has donated $180,000 to the Los Angeles Unified and Pasadena Unified school district foundations. These funds were generated from proceeds auctioning a ball from the World Series.
The players
Will Smith
He is a professional baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers who has been nominated for his charitable contributions.
Cara Smith
She co-founded the Catching Hope Foundation alongside her husband to provide educational resources to local children.
Catching Hope Foundation
This organization partners with Los Angeles area school districts to identify schools in need and install outdoor literacy spaces.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The major league baseball franchise selected Smith as their nominee for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award.
The details
The foundation focuses on identifying schools with the greatest needs to install specialized outdoor literacy spaces. These initiatives extend to several campuses across the region, including Clifford, Manhattan Place, Langdon, and Marquez Charter elementary schools.
Timeline
The Catching Hope Foundation was founded in 2021.
A partnership with Clifford Elementary School began in 2024.
Partnerships with Manhattan Place and Langdon elementary schools started in 2025.
The foundation visited Marquez Charter Elementary School in April 2026.
The fan vote for the award winner closes this Sunday.
Market Landscape
The nomination follows the established pattern of Major League Baseball teams selecting players who demonstrate exceptional community involvement for the Roberto Clemente Award. This selection reinforces the team's commitment to community engagement and social responsibility within the Los Angeles region.
Local residents and students directly benefit from the infrastructure improvements funded by the foundation's donations to area school districts. While the award nomination is an honorary process, the financial contributions provide tangible literacy resources for students at partner elementary schools.
The takeaway
Supporting local education through sports-linked foundations provides a unique model for corporate and individual community investment. Residents can participate in the selection process by casting their votes for the annual award recipient before the deadline.
Further reading
For more stories on community efforts in the region, visit Philanthropy.
Source note: This article includes information reported by MLB.
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