Members of Southern and Central California’s ALS community enjoyed an evening of togetherness and awareness on Tuesday, August 29 at Dodger Stadium. Golden West partnered with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Major League Baseball to gather hundreds of people with ALS, their caregivers, family members, friends, as well as others impacted by ALS for an ALS day of recognition. The event also served as a kick-off for the LA Walk to Defeat ALS. and welcomed Walk community partners like Maxim Health Services, Permobil, Numotion, and others.
While fans took their seats in the stands, a pre-game home plate ceremony included recognition of Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw was named a finalist for the 2023 Lou Gehrig Memorial Award – presented annually since 1955 by Phi Delta Theta to an MLB player who best exemplifies the character of Gehrig. The ceremony also included the presentation of a new wheelchair to Golden West constituent Ronnie Green on behalf of Phi Delta Theta, the Live Like Lou Foundation, and the Permobil Foundation.
Game day awareness continued in the second inning with U.S. Navy Seaman E-3 Leonard Snyder being presented as the Military Hero of the Game. Leonard, his wife Anne, and their family were featured on the jumbotron and have been active ambassadors for Golden West since Leonard’s ALS diagnosis in 2021. Team Snyder has also become a cherished fixture at the LA Walk.
“Going to a Dodgers game with my brothers and meeting other ALSers was a great treat,” said Kathy Hoxsie, who has been living with ALS since 2022. “It can be hard to find accessible fun activities to get out of the house. And the Good Guys won! Go Dodgers!”