Matt Kemp Named Celebrity Grand Marshal of MLK Parade

We’ve seen some of the charity work of Adrian Gonzalez this fall. Chad Billingsley visits kids in the local hospital. Of course the amazing Clayton Kershaw builds orphanages in Africa, but let’s not forget that Matt Kemp is no slouch himself in the charity work department.

Matt Kemp will be on hand for the MLK parade-Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Bison has a long list of past charity endeavors. If you remember Bison did a dreamfield dedication in the city of Compton back in 2007, Christmas visits to Watts, and the city if Hope hospital in Duarte, and his 2008 program called “Kemp’s Kids”, where he hosted kids at Dodger Stadium. Kemp has raised over 400,000 dollars for families with Autistic children, at his annual spring training fundraiser, and there was also the Dodger’s community caravan, and his participation in the Dodgers dream foundation bowling extravaganza. Kemp was honored for his charity work last winter, along with Kershaw with a legacy award, by the Negro Leagues Museum.

The good cheer will continue when Kemp will be the celebrity grand marshal in the 28 annual Kingdom day parade to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Kemp who is making great progress during his shoulder rehabilitation, will be joined by a slew of former Dodgers. The list will include Bobby Castillo, Tommy Davis, Al Ferrara, Sweet Lou Johnson, Lee Lacy, Ken Landreaux, Tim Leary, Wes Parker, Dennis Powell, Derrel Thomas, and Maury Wills. Apparently all of the former Dodgers will be riding in the back of a firetruck. A Dodger firetruck if you will.

The Dodgers are a sponsor of the parade which will feature the theme of “His dream will never die”. The parade starts at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and Western Avenue, and will be televised live on KABC Channel 7. The parade will begin this Saturday morning at 10:30 A.M.