Between starts, Gibson gives back in many ways

MIAMI -- Somehow, Kyle Gibson finds time.

It is one of the first questions that comes to mind for any Roberto Clemente Award nominee, including Gibson. He pitches every five days for the Phillies. In between, he throws bullpen sessions, works out and studies. In between those activities, he is vice president at Big League Impact, which is the nonprofit founded by Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright that partners with professional athletes to provide basic resources for people in need. Aside from all of that, he hosts events and donates his time and money to help numerous charities.

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“I feel I’m pretty fortunate,” Gibson said this week at loanDepot park. “Being a starting pitcher, I’ve got more down time than a lot of other guys. And Big League Impact makes things a whole lot easier. When we have five staff members who can organize events and sponsors, do marketing and stuff like that, that makes the player’s responsibility a lot easier.”

Since he was traded to Philadelphia in July 2021, Gibson has donated money for each win and strikeout to Philabundance, which serves people facing food insecurity in the Delaware Valley, and Cradles to Crayons, which supports low-income and homeless children. He has raised money for Help One Now, which empowers people in developing countries to end extreme poverty. He has also donated his time to the Phillies Phantastic Auction to raise money for the Phillies Charities grant fund and the ALS Association-Greater Philadelphia Chapter.

Gibson launched the #ALLWIN campaign in Philadelphia in April, which also supports Philabundance. He initiated a charitable program in May to provide tickets, food and special outings for Phillies fans who might not otherwise have an opportunity to attend a game. He hosted a charity fantasy football league. Gibson also teamed up with Zach Eflin to host Swinging for Impact, a golf event hosted last month at Topgolf in Mt. Laurel, N.J., to raise money for Help One Now and Kisses for Kyle, a charity that supports families whose children are battling cancer.

Fundraisers hosted by Gibson last year, including #ALLWIN, fantasy football and the Big League Blast Clays Shooting tournament in Missouri, raised more than $108,000 for charity.