LOS ANGELES, CA (June 18, 2019) – Los Angeles will heat up with the thrilling sounds of ping pong on the field of Dodger Stadium this August, when the Kershaw’s Challenge PingPong4Purpose celebrity tournament fundraiser makes it return on Thursday, August 8th.
The beloved annual summer showdown marks its seventh year, hosted by Los Angeles Dodgers’ star pitcher Clayton Kershaw and his wife Ellen, who founded their non-profit organization Kershaw’s Challenge in 2011. Serving their passions for ping pong and supporting children’s educational and community charities, the Kershaws’ 7th Annual PingPong4Purpose features an all-star matchup of venerated athletes, entertainment celebrities, family, friends, sponsors and fans engaging in ping pong battles, poker, a silent auction, and other activities.
The Kershaws will also honor multiple GRAMMY® and Academy of Country Music Award-winner Brad Paisley and his wife, actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley, with the Kershaw’s Challenge Impact Award at this year’s PingPong4Purpose, for the couple’s charitable work.
This year’s PingPong4Purpose continues the Kershaw’s Challenge ongoing mission to help the lives of others in need at home and internationally, impacting children and families in the greater Los Angeles community, the Dominican Republic, and Africa. Supporting their beneficiaries the Dream Center, Just Keep Livin Foundation, Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, International Justice Mission, Both Ends Believing, and Arise Africa, tickets and VIP packages are available now for the 7th Annual PingPong4Purpose.
Among ongoing initiatives Kershaw’s Challenge is doing with these charities, includes building classrooms and parks, bringing after-school programs into Los Angeles schools, refurbishing Jackie Robinson Stadium and Dodgers Dreamfields in Compton, supporting rescue and restoration efforts for victims of sex trafficking, and more.
Following a sold-out night last year, get ready for another unforgettable night of intense ping pong and entertainment at this signature summer celebration. Over the years, PingPong4Purpose has hosted honorees, star athletes, and entertainers such as Matthew McConaughey, Bryan Cranston, Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Jamie Foxx, Susan Sarandon, Jimmy Kimmel, Will Ferrell, Jack Black, Jason Bateman, Sarah Hyland, Eric Stonestreet, Justin Hartley, Kunal Nayyar, Josh Duhamel, Mario Lopez, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Oscar De La Hoya, Chris Paul, Jawun Evans, Dodgers players Austin Barnes, Cody Bellinger, Enrique Hernandez, Rich Hill, Joc Pederson, Justin Turner, Kenta Maeda, Ross Stripling, and Dodgers legends like Orel Hershiser and Eric Karros.
“The ping pong event has become a highlight for us every year,” stated Ellen and Clayton Kershaw. “It’s awesome to have so many teammates and friends from the LA community come out to support a cause that is so important to us. Kershaw’s Challenge is able to give away funds to our beneficiaries because we have such a wide base of support. PingPong4Purpose serves a great purpose…and it is also a lot of fun! August 8th is shaping up to be our best event yet! A great night for a great cause—come join us!”
Presenting Sponsors for the event are UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital, TOMS, HiHo Cheeseburger, SPIN, and STIGA.
Major sponsors include American Airlines, Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, and Hope Faith and Grace Fund.
For sponsorship and ticket information on PingPong4Purpose, visit: https://www.kershawschallenge.com/pp4p.
About Kershaw’s Challenge:
Clayton and Ellen Kershaw founded Kershaw’s Challenge with one goal: To challenge and encourage people to use whatever passion, purpose or talent that they have been given to make an impact on the lives of others in need. The charity partners with organizations both locally and abroad to renew hope one life at a time. In addition to fostering strong connections in the Los Angeles and Dallas communities, the Kershaws work closely with organizations in Zambia and the Dominican Republic who are on the front lines of making life better for children.
In 2012, Clayton was recognized with MLB’s highest humanitarian honor, the Roberto Clemente Award, in recognition of the work he’s done for communities in Zambia, Los Angeles and Dallas. That quality of character and dedication to giving back to others also led to him being honored with the Branch Rickey Award in 2013. As his career progresses, Clayton is even more cognizant of his unique platform to give back to others and make an impact in the lives of vulnerable children. Clayton and Ellen are excited to build upon such recognition and further expand their charitable reach.
For more information, visit www.kershawschallenge.com.
(Lauren Douglas Furnished the information provided in this report)
Think Blue Planning Committee 
Kersh isn’t the favorite this year. I heard he’s lost a couple of mph’s on his serve! Kersh is even a better person than he is a pitcher and that’s saying a lot! My favorite player. Ever!
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Great write up Dennis! Thx
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I called it. JOC is working out at first base and Doc says it’s gonna happen!
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So Joc getting a crash course at first now. I think he can handle it. It’s a good idea for a player like him for when he ages and can’t play the outfield as well anymore his power will still play at 1B.
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How much longer do we have to suffer with Barnes! It’s been a year and a half of really bad baseball. Enough already. Bring back Smith!!!!!!
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Barnes bat is struggling but he’s borderline elite defensively and calling games behind the plate. With this team that matters more than his bat so I’m fine with him at catcher. I do think Will Smith is ready and deserving though so it’s a bit of conundrum.
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Conundrum is a pretty fancy word, Alex😀
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Sorry Alex but check out the statistics on Barnes. He has one of the worst catching arms in baseball and his pitch framing stats are down this year. He is a huge hole in our lineup and there’s no reason why he’s our starting catcher over Smith
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He’s our starting catcher because he’s the starting catcher and the staff has confidence in him. If that weren’t the case he’d be gone.
Another player switching positions? I don’t get it. In principle it doesn’t make sense to me, I think it sends the wrong message to the three first basemen we already have, but …. I don’t know all the reasoning behind it so.. I wait to see what’s really going on. Maybe there is a move on the horizon that will give an explanation.
From my couch I would go with Muncy and Freese at first and get a better second baseman on the field. First base is just not that difficult to learn people. Any baseball person will tell you that is where you stick a stick, and by that I mean a player that is limited in defensive skills but hits. In my playbook that is Muncy. Freese is basically a utility bench leader. Other teams would love to have Muncy/Freese as their first base option. I think we are lucky to have them both. Let Muncy hit and play one position. He might be Steve Garvey over there. And tell Pederson to lose 10 pounds and work on barreling up left handers to the opposite field. If he’s lighter he’d get faster, like he was when he came up. He could bunt and hit .350:against the shift. Hell I could bunt for hit against the shift and I haven’t had a hit in over a decade.
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They are putting Pederson at first and Muncy at 2nd so when Pollock comes back the outfield will be him Verdugo and Belli. I’d rather have Joc’s bat on n the lineup against righties than Kiki or Taylor at 2nd base. Freese plays against lefties and Taylor and Kiki are bench role players where they belong
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We then don’t have to give up prospects for a 2nd baseman and can use those assets to get a 2nd closer
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I want a bonafide high RF second baseman. That isnt Muncy. .
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