Campaign to Replace Destroyed Jackie Robinson Statue Raises More Than $145K In Donations
A community in Wichita, Kansas is picking up the pieces after a Jackie Robinson statue went missing from a local park and later was discovered in scorched pieces.
Community Raises More Than $145,000 For Jackie Robinson, Honoring Player On 105th Birthday
The community was shocked by the act of vandalism against a legendary MLB player and American icon. Robinson broke the MLB's color barrier in 1947.
A week after the statue was cut from McAdams Park, the community organized a fundraiser that has grossed an astonishing $145,000 to restore the famed Jackie Robinson statue. As relayed by the New York Post, League 42 — the nonprofit organization inspired by Jackie Robinson, built its first statue dedicated to Robinson for $75,000.
A spokesperson on behalf of League 42 announced that a new Robinson statue is expected to be built in the coming months. Some good news out of a bad circumstance.
On Jan. 25, the Jackie Robinson statue was discovered cut off at the ankles. On Tuesday, parts of the destroyed statue were found in a burning trash can at a park seven miles away from the original statue's location.
circa 1945: A portrait of the Brooklyn Dodgers' infielder Jackie Robinson in uniform. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
The community's dedication toward honoring Robinson with its donations overlaps with the 105th birthday of the legendary ball player, born on Jan. 31, 1919.
Wichita police shared that two suspects were caught on video but have not been identified.