OUR MISSION

The Rod Dedeaux Foundation’s (RDF) mission is to impact every step of a ballplayer’s journey, from the dugout to the final out. We accomplish this by collaborating with groundbreaking beneficiaries to create equal opportunities for our city’s at-risk youth to excel on the diamond, in the classroom, and in the game of life. Embodying Rod’s fervent optimism for the communities he served, the Rod Dedeaux Foundation is steadfast in rewriting the narrative of baseball and softball in urban America. 

 

RDF strives to accomplish our mission by: 


  • Providing annual college scholarships and grants, in partnership with the MLB Urban Youth Academy in Compton, to qualified candidates based on financial need and academic merits including GPA and community service. To date, RDF has awarded over $400,000 to deserving students through scholarship funds.


  • Offering professional coaching and mentoring experiences for 300+ Compton Unified School District middle-schoolers participating in our annual Youth Softball & Baseball Clinics and 1,000+ elementary kids in our annual Tee Ball Clinic, through our partnership with Educational Sports Institute (ESI). Over 25 coaches (former MLB stars & current collegiate and high school players) assist in ensuring that each participant has the most impactful experience possible by providing valuable instruction, breakfast, lunch, exciting giveaways, and memories to last a lifetime!

  • Providing urban youth with access to valuable resources including sports equipment, coaching support, and athletic facilities which will allow them to play in year-round baseball and softball leagues.

  • Raising funds and awareness of community needs through annual fundraisers including our Annual Legends on the Links Golf Tournament, networking, and grants.


Thanks to generous donors and supporters, such as Kennedy Wilson (scholarship sponsor since 2015), the Rod Dedeaux Foundation has been able to award at least two scholarships (one each to a male and female scholar athlete) to attend college since 2015. The scholarship grants $7,500 per academic year (for 4 years) for those who maintain good standings with their scholarship (minimum 3.0 or higher). Thanks to people like you, we are helping keep kids in school, off the streets, focused on sports and giving them the opportunity to improve the quality

of their future.

"If you believe what you're doing is worthwhile, you'll succeed."
~ Rod Dedeaux

COACH ROD DEDEAUX

Raoul “Rod” Dedeaux was a legendary USC and USA Olympic Baseball Coach, Founder of Japan–USA Baseball Series, Father of International Baseball, and “Coach of the Century.”

Coach Dedeaux loved the taste of victory on the baseball diamond, and his tremendous accomplishments of 11 national titles and 28 conference titles prove just that.

Rod's most enduring legacy was his ability to use the sport of baseball as a platform to provide a positive, lifelong impact in the lives of thousands of young adults; his heart was always focused on mentorship and guidance demonstrated through his tireless coaching to promote teamwork, sportsmanship, discipline, a sense of fair play...and having a heck of a good time.