LOS ANGELES—L.A. Dodger superstar Shohei Ohtani made a big announcement this week, unveiling the Shohei Ohtani Family Foundation, a nonprofit to benefit animals in need and children’s enrichment.

The foundation’s mission statement says simply, “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.”

Ohtani, who has achieved superstar status in America and Japan, adds to his reputation for excellence with his charitable efforts. In January, he donated $500,000 to Los Angeles firefighters and also to help animals affected by the Los Angeles fires. The same month, in his native Japan, he also donated generously to earthquake victims, and supplied schoolchildren there with baseball mitts to encourage play and activity.

The logo of the new foundation features a silhouette of the Ohtani family holding hands, with he and his wife Mamiko Tanaka on either side of their nine-month old daughter and family dog Decoy, who is often included in Ohtani’s social media and was even on a birth announcement for the Ohtani’s daughter posted to Instagram.

The superstar player announced the foundation following a back-to-back World Series win in October and being awarded the National League Most Valuable Player trophy, amongst many records and milestones Ohtani has achieved since signing with the Dodgers in 2023.

Decoy, Ohtani’s beloved pooch, is a Dutch Kooikerhondje, commonly called a Dutch decoy spaniel. His name in Japanese is Dekopin, which reportedly translates to a word that describes a “quick flick on the head.”

The handsome hound is so popular, there’s even an Ohtani & Decoy collectible Bobblehead. Decoy has recently been joined in the Dodger Dog Club by Carlos, a shelter dog newly adopted by Ohtani’s teammate and World Series MVP Yoshi Yamamoto. Go Dodgers!

For more information, visit ShoheiOhtaniFamilyFoundation.com.

Photo: Photo by Jametlene Reskp on Unsplash/Logo: Courtesy Shohei Ohtani Family Foundation