“It is definitely a life threatening location for baseball,” told you the three-day Cy Younger champion, noting that a few of his teammates features hailed regarding country. When Kershaw and his girlfriend, Ellen, read of one’s widespread child trafficking regarding Dominican Republic, they needed an approach to help.

In offseason, the fresh Kershaws — plus previous major leaguer Adam LaRoche along with his wife, Jennifer — traveled so you can Santo Domingo in order to meet with officials on the Global Justice Purpose (IJM), a religion-situated providers that battles slavery and gender trafficking, eg guy exploitation.

“They looked and acted like any other children,” Kershaw told you. “But what they had been through is actually far from typical.”

Once Kershaw mutual his issues about guy gender trafficking regarding the nation, Medina in hopes him that his workplace manage service IJM’s efforts

“Ellen and i also constantly chatted about just what the giving purpose is otherwise whatever you feel most named to complete, and kids are just at new vanguard of the,” Kershaw told you.

Kershaw, a colorado native, was not timid on showing their Lone Star Condition pride, yet not. Couple of years ago, he reached out to IJM’s place of work inside Dallas, where Kershaws inhabit the winter. Last year, IJM turned an official beneficiary out-of Kershaw’s Difficulties, the brand new pitcher’s base, which targets permitting pupils.

“I’m excited to satisfy the folks with the front side outlines who possess loyal the lifetime to attacking this new trafficking and you will bondage within the the new DR,” Kershaw told you immediately following their meeting. “You can write monitors, that is awesome. Every nonprofit needs the help. But to put shoes on to the ground and wade notice it changes your own heart.”

You to night, Kershaw along with his classification ran undercover in Boca Chica, a location called an effective hotbed to own prostitution within the Santo Domingo. Continue reading →