HIROKI KURODA DONATES $100,000 TO DODGERS DREAM FOUNDATION AND THINKCURE!
LOS ANGELES – The 2009 National League West Division Champion Los Angeles Dodgers announced today that right-hander Hiroki Kuroda will donate $100,000 to the Dodgers Dream Foundation, with a portion also benefitting the team’s official charity, ThinkCure!
"I've lost both of my parents to cancer, and I'd like to help in any way I can to eradicate this awful disease,” said Kuroda. “My parents gave me my life. By continuing to be active in helping to end this sickness, I feel like I'm repaying them out of gratitude. I would like to lend my hand to anyone who is fighting cancer.”
Kuroda became the seventh Japanese player in Dodger history joining the Dodgers in 2008. Kuroda was the Dodgers’ 2009 Opening Day starter and overcame injuries to go 8-7 with a 3.76 ERA in 21 games (20 starts).
In 2009, Kuroda participated in the Dodgers’ Community Caravan and the ThinkCure! Radiotelewebethon. Last year, Kuroda visited Washington Accelerated Elementary in Pasadena and served Dodger fans lunch alongside his teammates at the Panda Inn as part of the Dodgers’ annual Community Caravan. Following the 2008 season, Kuroda donated $100,000 to DDF and ThinkCure!
In 2009, the Dodgers and the Dodgers Dream Foundation assisted more than 3,800 local youth organizations by renovating baseball fields in the community, through player appearances, and by donating more than 103,000 tickets, autographed memorabilia, donation of used equipment and much more. Last season, the Dodgers Dream Foundation affected hundreds of thousands of local youth through its various programs.
ThinkCure!, an innovative, community-based non-profit that accelerates collaborative research to cure cancers, was launched in July 2007 by the Los Angeles Dodgers, the McCourt family, City of Hope, and Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. More than $2.9 million in funding has been raised to champion a cure for cancer since ThinkCure!’s founding.
3 comments:
He should be paying back. In fact he should be donating to the Dodger fans for having to watch his horrific play.
its in his contract to give $100,000 per year to the dodger dream foundation. charitable? yes. would he have done it on his own? well...
Weren't there only 6 Japanese players who played with the Dodgers?
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