Kershaw holds sixth annual Ping Pong 4 Purpose tournament at Dodger Stadium
There’s only one event that can put Clayton Kershaw in a headband, goggles and a multi-colored jumpsuit next to Matthew McConaughey, Bryan Cranston, Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis and Bill Nye inside Dodger Stadium.
Clayton and Ellen Kershaw held their star-studded sixth annual Ping Pong 4 Purpose celebrity ping-pong showdown Thursday night supporting programs serving children and families.
“This is one of the nights on the calendar I think everyone looks forward to,” said Justin Turner. “All the work (Clayton) does in the community, not just here in LA but back home in Texas and all over the world, really, is inspirational.”
Athletes, actors and other celebrities spent the night playing Ping-Pong, eating, drinking and enjoying themselves all while helping kids in need. The Dream Center, just keep livin foundation and the International Justice Mission’s programs in the Dominican Republic were the three main beneficiaries of the event put on by Kershaw’s Challenge.
“Every year, the beneficiaries keep getting better and better and the money raised gets more and more,” Clayton said. “The bottom line, we get to help a lot of kids and that’s pretty cool.”
Cranston emceed for the night and helped the Kershaws present the Kershaw’s Challenge Impact Award to Matthew and Camila McConaughey, whose work with the just keep livin foundation helps students get the tools to lead active ives and make healthy choices through after-school fitness and wellness programs.
Ellen’s goal was for donations throughout the night to help the International Justice Mission rescue 20 kids from trafficking in the Dominican Republic. She also wanted to be able to help build a playground for kids at the Dream Center in Los Angeles.
All of the silent auction proceeds went to Kershaw’s Challenge, which was founded by Clayton and Ellen in 2011 and has since given more than $6 million dollars to support at-risk children and families around the globe, from Los Angeles and Dallas to Zambia and the Dominican Republic.
“Clayton and Ellen are just such incredible people,” said Alex Wood. “As talented as Clayton is on the field, he’s just as much of a talent off the field and as a person with the things he does with his charity and in his community. It’s cool for us to come out here and hang and support.”
It meant a lot to Kershaw to see all the celebrities and perhaps even more to see all his teammates on an off night.
“To see my teammates come out for an off night tonight is really a testament to them,” Kershaw said.
For one night, they could get their minds off baseball and do so for a good cause. They’ll be right back at the stadium Friday night welcoming the Padres to town, hoping Thursday provided the right kind of refresher to bounce back.
“I think that’s something we can maybe put in the back of our minds tonight, but honestly I think it’s something at the top of everybody’s minds is getting back to winning,” said Rich Hill.
