Baseball
Shohei Ohtani Family Foundation is Launched to Help Children and Protect Animals
For Shohei Ohtani, the new foundation expands his involvement in community-related projects. He's also donated thousands of baseball gloves to Japanese schools.
Shohei Ohtani has said numerous times that he finds joy and purpose in giving back to society.
The establishment of the Shohei Ohtani Family Foundation expands the MLB superstar's involvement in charitable activities. An announcement was made on November 22.
On the new foundation's website, its mission statement provides a clear summary of its goals.
"Our mission is to create healthier, happier communities by funding initiatives that inspire children to stay active and live well, and by supporting programs that rescue, protect, and care for animals in need."
Muhammad Ali famously said, "Service to others is the rent you pay for the room here on earth."
With that ideal in mind, the new Shohei Ohtani Family Foundation can be a positive force for good.
And as a four-time MVP in Major League Baseball (2021 and '23 in the American League, 2024 and '25 in the National League), the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar is a visible role model on the global stage.
The logo of the Shohei Ohtani Family Foundation shows Ohtani, his wife, Mamiko, their baby daughter, and their beloved dog, Dekopin (aka Decoy).
Shohei Ohtani Gives Back to the Community
After the devastating wildfires in Southern California in January 2025, the Dodgers superstar announced he was donating $500,000 USD (about ¥78 million JPY with the current exchange rate) "to [help] these firefighters, the people who have been forced to evacuate and the animals in need of support."
Ohtani also co-authored a forthcoming children's book, Decoy Saves Opening Day (HarperCollins, February 2026). He said in July 2025 that he plans to donate proceeds from the book to support nonprofit animal rescue organizations.
In 2024, Ohtani donated 60,000 baseball gloves to Japan's 20,000 elementary schools, helping to increase the supply of equipment across the nation.
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Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.