Clayton Kershaw’s influence in Los Angeles is being measured not only by strikeouts and Cy Young trophies but by the quieter mathematics of social services, scholarships and hands-on community partnerships — and a local nonprofit made that point plain this week. In a statement to CBS News, the Los Angeles organization thanked the longtime Dodgers ace for “years of consistent, humble generosity” that it said helped sustain programs for foster youth, after-school learning and basic-needs support across the city.

The acknowledgement comes as Kershaw’s career winds toward its final chapters, offering a moment to evaluate how elite athletes now build parallel legacies off the field. Kershaw has long been known for his charitable work through foundations and partnerships in Greater Los Angeles and abroad; the nonprofit’s statement emphasized ongoing collaborations that translated into tangible services for vulnerable families at neighborhood levels where city budgets often fall short.

“Kershaw’s commitment has been transformational for the kids we serve,” the nonprofit told CBS News, crediting the pitcher with funding, programmatic support and a public profile that helped draw other donors and volunteers. The organization said that Kershaw’s involvement — from benefit events to targeted grants — allowed it to expand tutoring, mental health referrals and emergency food distribution during periods of heightened need.

Kershaw, who in a separate comment thanked Los Angeles for “giving me a platform to try to help,” framed his work as part of a team effort: athletes, local nonprofits and corporate partners working to fill gaps in social services. That collaborative model is becoming more commonplace in U.S. sports: players are leveraging contractual earnings and personal brands to seed community-focused enterprises, often with measurable programmatic impact and recognizable PR benefits for teams and leagues.

The trend carries business implications. Teams that foster visible, sustained community engagement gain goodwill that can translate into ticket sales, corporate partnerships and softer local regulatory environments. For athletes, a robust philanthropic résumé can help secure long-term partnerships, board seats and post-career opportunities in civic leadership. It also affects Hall of Fame-era narratives; off-field contributions increasingly factor into public memory and institutional honors.

Culturally, the attention paid to Kershaw’s off-field work underlines how athletes in diverse American cities are expected to be civic actors. In Los Angeles — a metropolis of stark inequality, rising housing costs and stretched municipal services — the involvement of high-profile sports figures can shine light on local needs and mobilize resources more quickly than traditional philanthropy. Critics caution, however, that athlete-driven efforts should complement rather than substitute for sustained public investment.

Nonprofits that partner with athletes also face new pressures: to demonstrate outcomes, manage donor expectations and protect missions amid publicity cycles. For the organization that thanked Kershaw, the immediate payoff was increased capacity and visibility; the longer-term hope is sustained community impact shaped by stable funding and policy changes.

As Kershaw’s career arc draws attention beyond baseball statistics, Los Angeles communities are already tallying the benefits of his off-field choices. Whether through scholarships, food programs or advocacy, the pitcher’s quiet philanthropy has become part of a larger conversation about athletes as civic assets — and about how cities can harness that influence to serve residents who need it most.