Steve Webb
PHILADELPHIA, PA — “Back where I’m from, there are men who go around doing nothing but good deeds all day,” said the Wizard to the Tin Man at the end of the classic film The Wizard of Oz. “They are called phila… er, phila… er, yes, er, Good Deed Doers.”
Justin Turner is just one such of these Good Deed Doers, and now he has the trophy to prove it. On Monday prior to the start of World Series Game 3, JT was named the recipient of the 2022 Roberto Clemente Award, following his fifth career nomination for MLB’s most prestigious individual award.
“I think when you think about baseball and the history and all the great accolades that can be achieved on the field, this is one that stands out above all of them, for me,” Turner said at a press conference at Citizens Bank Park. “Because it’s a way that my wife and I have the opportunity to give back in the community, to utilize our platform in a meaningful, positive way.”
What Turner is most proud of, it seems, is his work with wife Kourtney in creating the Justin Turner Foundation, the Turners’ non-profit organization that has only grown in scope and reach throughout the years. The foundation’s mission is to support homeless veterans, children and families battling life-altering diseases and illnesses as well as youth baseball organizations.
In 2021, the Dream Center renamed its food bank to The Justin & Kourtney Turner Food Bank, and it currently supplies food to more than 60 food banks in the Los Angeles area. In addition, Turner’s foundation holds an annual golf tournament and supports AM 570’s Veterans Day Radio-a-thon, both of which aid the Dream Center’s Veterans Program. Last year, the tournament raised more than $650,000.
Not to mention the Turner Trot, the run-walk event that was held in blistering heat this summer and still managed to draw big crowds and raise thousands for the Dream Center.
“Kourt and I have always taken a lot of pride in being in the community and being involved and giving back,” he said at the Turner Trot in September. “To be able to have the support of the community and to raise money and to give back to people in need is pretty special to us.”
In addition, the Turners are committed to helping children battling deadly illnesses. They are frequent visitors on the pediatric wards at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. This season, Turner sent over a pair of cleats for the young patients to decorate. Turner then wore the cleats during a doubleheader on Sept. 20.
The honor is annually given to the player who “best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field,” and the winner is chosen by the Commissioner, Clemente’s children, former players, journalists and fans. Turner became the third Dodgers player to win the prestigious award, joining Steve Garvey (1981) and Clayton Kershaw (2012).
“It feels like [everything] has really taken off since the day I put the Dodger uniform on,” Turner said. “So obviously, it’s very special to me, growing up in Southern California and getting to wear that jersey and be a part of an organization that has so much history and has so many people who have impacted the game in so many different ways. I’m just trying to do my little part.”
Justin Turner. Clemente Award Winner. Good Deed Doer.
