Freddie Freeman, Dodgers Donate $12.5M to Shelter Homeless Youth in L.A. to Honor Beloved Manager Dave Roberts

In a powerful and unexpected act of compassion and unity, the Los Angeles Dodgers have made a monumental $12.5 million donation to transform a large residential property in the heart of Los Angeles into a shelter dedicated to homeless youth. The donation, spearheaded by star first baseman Freddie Freeman, was made in honor of Head Coach Dave Roberts—a man the entire team regards as far more than just their manager. The players say the shelter, affectionately named “Berts,” will serve as a permanent, living tribute to a man who has been a father figure, mentor, and source of unwavering strength and guidance.

The moment, which broke late Thursday evening, stunned the baseball world not because of its publicity—there was none—but because of its quiet sincerity. The Dodgers did not hold a press conference. No press release was drafted. The team simply gave. And once the news began to circulate, the story quickly swept through Los Angeles and the wider sports world, not as a calculated act of charity, but as a deeply human gesture.

Freddie Freeman, who has always carried himself with a quiet sense of purpose and leadership, reportedly initiated the idea during spring training. According to team sources, Freeman had long admired Roberts’ tireless work off the field. While Roberts is best known to fans as the man who led the Dodgers to a World Series title and countless 100-win seasons, to those within the organization, he’s known for something far more profound: the care he shows to every person he meets. From players to staff to security guards, Roberts treats everyone with the same warmth and dignity.

“He gives his heart away every single day,” Freeman reportedly said during an emotional team meeting earlier this year. “He doesn’t just coach us. He makes us better men. And he never asks for anything in return.”

That meeting, sources say, sparked something rare: total unanimity among a group of professional athletes. In a sport driven by contracts, statistics, and pressure, the Dodgers set all of that aside for one cause: honoring the man who never sought recognition. And they did it in a way that will impact lives far beyond the stadium.

The $12.5 million donation was made to a local nonprofit that works with at-risk youth in the greater Los Angeles area. The organization, whose name has not been publicly disclosed to protect the safety and privacy of the shelter’s future residents, will oversee the renovation and operation of the property. The home, a once-abandoned estate in Mid-City, will be transformed into a safe haven offering food, clothing, education, mentorship, and, most importantly, a sense of stability for teenagers who have known only instability.

The project is expected to be completed within a year, with several Dodgers players pledging continued financial and personal support. Some have even committed to volunteering at the shelter during the offseason.

The name “Berts” comes from an affectionate team nickname for Dave Roberts—coined years ago when a rookie mispronounced his name during spring drills. Rather than correct the player, Roberts laughed and embraced the name, and over time, it stuck. To the Dodgers, “Berts” isn’t just a nickname. It’s shorthand for kindness, humility, strength, and the belief that leading with love is never a weakness.

For Roberts, who learned of the project only after the donation was finalized, the gesture left him speechless. In a rare emotional moment captured by team staff, Roberts was seen wiping tears from his eyes after Freeman presented him with a framed photo of the house and the words: For Berts. Because you made us better. Now it’s our turn.

Roberts later told a few close friends that it was the most meaningful moment of his professional life.

While the Dodgers are no strangers to community involvement—the team has long supported initiatives throughout Los Angeles—this project marks a significant evolution in their philanthropic approach. Instead of simply funding programs, the team has taken direct ownership of a solution. And they’ve done so with the kind of intentionality that can only come from personal connection.

“This isn’t about writing a check and walking away,” said a team insider. “This is about stepping into the pain of a city, standing with people who feel forgotten, and saying: we see you. We’re with you. And we’re doing this in the name of a man who lives that truth every day.”

That approach has inspired fans, players from rival teams, and even civic leaders, who praised the Dodgers for focusing on a vulnerable and often-overlooked population.

In Los Angeles, where homelessness has reached crisis levels and youth homelessness continues to rise, the creation of a shelter specifically focused on teenagers and young adults is both timely and necessary. City officials have struggled for years to find stable housing solutions for this group, whose unique needs often fall through the cracks of adult-centric services.

The shelter, “Berts,” will provide more than a bed and a roof. Plans include on-site counselors, education partnerships with local schools and colleges, vocational training programs, and a community garden designed by Mookie Betts, who has a background in urban agriculture and has long championed food access in underserved neighborhoods.

“This is about planting something that will grow,” Betts said privately to teammates. “Not just literally with the garden, but with the kids. We want them to believe they can thrive, not just survive.”

Clayton Kershaw, the team’s longest-tenured player and a longtime supporter of youth charities, called the project “the proudest thing I’ve been a part of as a Dodger.” Known for his fierce competitiveness and leadership on the mound, Kershaw said Roberts taught him that being a teammate is about more than baseball.

“He teaches by example. He checks on your family. He remembers your birthday. He listens when you’re going through something. He’s the best man I’ve ever known in this game,” Kershaw told a close friend.

And it’s not just the veterans. Younger players like Bobby Miller and Gavin Lux reportedly contributed significantly to the donation and plan to be active in helping run mentorship programs at the shelter.

“This is what being part of the Dodgers means,” Miller said. “It’s not just about what you do on the field. It’s about who you are in the world.”

As the season unfolds and the Dodgers chase another championship, there’s a deeper unity within the clubhouse. Players speak of one another differently. There’s a gravity to the way they go about their business—focused, yes, but grounded in something bigger.

In a league often dominated by headlines about contracts, trades, and controversies, this story has reminded fans what sports can be at their best: a platform for collective good, a way to connect across boundaries, and a source of real, tangible hope.

No one would be surprised if the Dodgers go on another deep playoff run this fall. But even if they don’t, they’ve already won something that transcends trophies: the admiration of a city, the gratitude of vulnerable youth, and the quiet pride of a man whose life’s work has always been about others.

Berts will open its doors in early 2026, but its legacy has already begun. Not with a headline or a ribbon-cutting ceremony—but with a team of men who decided that love, loyalty, and leadership are worth honoring not just in words, but in action.