Ben Carlson foundation gets $10,000 donation at Dodgers game

When Newport Beach lifeguard Ben Carlson died in the line of duty this summer, he was remembered as an athletic and committed guard who loved to surf and golf in his free time.

Carlson also was a fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers, holding season tickets and carrying a Dodgers coffee mug wherever he went, according to a biography on the city’s website.

Perhaps Carlson would have attended the team’s home game Monday night. Instead, his family accepted a donation on behalf of the Ben Carlson Memorial and Scholarship Foundation.

Before the game, State Farm presented a check for $10,000 to the foundation, which aims to provide scholarships for students, improve ocean safety and support organizations with a history of giving to impoverished youths.

The foundation also is pursuing the idea of a statue that would be installed in Carlson’s honor near the shoreline at the base of the Balboa Pier.

— Emily Foxhall

Twitter: @emfoxhall