Mark Walter, owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, alongside 42 filmmaker Thomas Tull, has made an impressive commitment to the Jackie Robinson Foundation with a $20 million donation over the next two years.
This contribution marks a milestone as the largest in the history of the New York City-based foundation, which reported $9.75 million in revenue in 2024 based on its tax filings. The funds will be directed towards the foundation’s scholarship initiatives and the newly launched Jackie Robinson Museum located in lower Manhattan.
Della Britton, president of the foundation, expressed immense gratitude during a recent Zoom interview announcing the donation. “It’s hard to encapsulate our excitement and how timely this support is,” she stated. “The past few years have presented significant challenges, but Thomas and Mark have been steadfast supporters of the Museum. It feels only fitting they stepped up in such a significant manner.”
Both Walter and Tull share deep connections to Jackie Robinson, who broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball when he took the field with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947. Robinson played 11 seasons, retiring shortly before the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles after 1957.
Walter, who serves as co-Chairman and CEO of TWG Global—a company focusing on AI, technology, financial services, energy, and sports—played a pivotal role in Guggenheim Baseball’s acquisition of the now back-to-back World Series champions in 2012 for $2.15 billion. The team’s ownership group is known for their unwavering support of Robinson’s legacy, his widow Rachel, who is currently 103, and numerous charitable initiatives.
Tull, co-chairman of TWG Global, brings his influence to the National Baseball Hall of Fame board, where Robinson became the first Black inductee in 1962. Tull also produced the acclaimed 2013 film, 42, featuring the late Chadwick Boseman as Robinson.
“Mark and Thomas have consistently been our allies since Mark acquired the Dodgers and during the film’s production,” Britton noted.
Jackie Robinson’s number 42 was universally retired across MLB in 1997, with Mariano Rivera being the last player to wear it before his retirement in 2013.
The Jackie Robinson Foundation was established by Rachel Robinson in 1973, a year following her husband’s untimely demise at the age of 53 due to a heart attack. Rachel has been instrumental in preserving Jackie’s legacy, long before MLB embraced annual commemorations on April 15, initiated during the 50th anniversary of his debut.
The foundation provides four-year college scholarships worth $35,000 each to young minority students. Since its inception, it has awarded $124 million in scholarships to over 2,000 students, underscoring the critical nature of Walter and Tull’s recent donation.
MLB sponsors one scholarship annually per its 30 teams, while Walter, through the Dodger Foundation, funds an additional ten scholarships each year, according to Britton.
The Jackie Robinson Museum, which officially opened on September 5, 2022, represents the culmination of years of fundraising, costing $38 million to establish. It houses an extensive collection of 4,500 artifacts related to Robinson, including his Hall of Fame plaque, many of which were generously donated by the family of the late Dodgers owner, Walter O’Malley.
“Our goal at the museum is to promote discussions surrounding breaking barriers and fostering brotherhood. We aim to confront difficult issues of race relations, and this donation will empower us to continue that mission,” Britton emphasized.
