Will Smith Hosted Students at Dodger Stadium
The Catching Hope Foundation event provided STEM and sports resources for local elementary students impacted by wildfire.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Philanthropy
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On May 26, 2026, actor Will Smith hosted 130 students from Marquez Charter Elementary School at Dodger Stadium for the third annual Catching Hope Community Clinic. The event served students displaced or impacted after their school was destroyed in the January 2025 Palisades wildfire.
Why it matters
The initiative aims to provide academic and extracurricular support to students navigating the ongoing recovery of their school community. By partnering with professional sports organizations, the foundation leverages community assets to maintain student engagement during a multi-year rebuilding process.
A total of 130 students attended the third annual clinic, marking the second year Discovery Cube has provided programming. The event integrated resources from local entities including the Dodgers Training Academy to support a cohort affected by a wildfire that occurred in early 2025.
The players
Will Smith
An actor and philanthropist who operates the Catching Hope Foundation to support community development initiatives.
Los Angeles Dodgers
A major league baseball franchise that utilizes its stadium infrastructure for community outreach and charitable partnerships.
Discovery Cube
A nonprofit science center that provides interactive educational programming and STEM curriculum to school-age children.
The details
The Catching Hope Foundation, in partnership with the Los Angeles Dodgers, structured the clinic around rotating stations that combined physical activity with education. Students participated in STEM modules led by Discovery Cube, alongside nutrition workshops and cooking activities facilitated by Parker Anderson Enrichment. The programming included on-field agility courses and Quick Ball drills supported by the Dodgers Training Academy and Playworks to ensure a comprehensive experience for the attendees.
Timeline
January 2025: The Palisades wildfire destroyed Marquez Charter Elementary School.
Fall 2025: Students and staff moved into temporary campus structures.
May 26, 2026: Will Smith hosted the Catching Hope Community Clinic at Dodger Stadium.
Market Landscape
This clinic represents a recurring philanthropic response to the community displacement caused by the 2025 Palisades wildfire. The model follows a pattern of corporate-supported enrichment programs designed to maintain continuity for students while their permanent facilities remain offline.
Operators in community-impact sectors should monitor the effectiveness of rotating engagement models for displaced cohorts. Strengthening partnerships with local nonprofits remains a primary method for organizations to deliver consistent social impact during long-term infrastructure recovery.
The takeaway
Engagement clinics demonstrate the value of repurposing professional facilities to mitigate the loss of school-based extracurricular resources. Business owners looking to support displaced communities should track the success of these multi-organizational collaborations for future planning.
Further reading
For more on how local organizations are supporting recovery efforts, see Philanthropy.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Times of India.
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