At last night’s meeting, the Board of Education voted to approve a $500,000 charitable donation pledge from El Modena High School alumnus and Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman. The donation is to be used for the purchase and installation of a new 1,440 square-foot modular baseball clubhouse, which includes a locker room, team meeting area, and coach’s office, in addition to new, extended batting cages, and required DSA and Building Code upgrades. The $1.1 million projected is expected to be completed in Summer 2023.

“Mr. Freeman’s pledge to donate $500,000 is the most generous contribution the district has received from a private donor. We appreciate his support of our students and his alma mater, El Modena High School,” said Deputy Superintendent/CBO David A. Rivera. “We are very proud of the wonderful example he is to our community and young people, and the kind of individual we hope to nurture in Orange Unified.”

Staff collaborated with Fred Freeman, Sr., and El Modena Varsity Baseball Head Coach Josh Kliner on the proposed scope of work.