Commitment to Community – COVID 19 Pandemic

Boys & Girls Clubs: The Yankees partnered with Ace Endico to help provide families of the Madison Square Boys & Girls Club and the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club with food provisions. These items were distributed locally on a weekly basis to help individuals with enough food to help sustain their families over the course of seven days.

Bronx Chamber of Commerce: The Yankees teamed up with the Bronx Chamber of Commerce to secure assistance for small, local businesses struggling due to difficulties associated with COVID-19. As a result of the Chamber’s pro bono partnership with the law firm Arnold & Porter, efforts were rolled out to assist these businesses with access to necessary support services and resources.

In addition, the Chamber joined efforts with longstanding Yankees partner Univision to create a virtual town hall aimed at exposing local businesses to educative information, including best practices related to recovering and growing during these challenging times.

Business to Community Initiative: In late December, the Yankees launched an initiative based on the economic support of local businesses in the 161st Street corridor around Yankee Stadium. In association with the Bronx’s 16th Council District, led by Council Member Vanessa L. Gibson, the organization committed $50,000 in winter spending with local businesses around the Stadium in the form of 10 separate $5,000 awards. Given the immediate need of food during pandemic-related challenging times, the majority of the commitment was directed toward local restaurants and food providers.

With the guidance of the Bronx Council District 16 Office, each business was also paired with a Community-Based Organization (CBO). To best meet the needs of those they serve, each CBO determined how money was spent at their assigned business entity. In addition, the Yankees also worked in conjunction with the New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS), which is helping businesses in need of assistance as a result of COVID-19 by facilitating access to new sales opportunities, offering technical assistance to unlock affordable business financing, and providing free business consulting.

Church Alive Community Church: In association with Legends Hospitality, the Yankees provided a substantial food and beverage donation to Church Alive Community Church in the Bronx and Rock & Wrap It Up to help support local soup kitchens and food pantries.

Citymeals on Wheels: In an effort to help support the continuing efforts of Citymeals on Wheels during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Yankees provided funds to further aid the increased demand for home-delivered meals throughout New York City. Since the start of the crisis, Citymeals has delivered over one million meals to the city’s vulnerable elderly population. For over 18,000 such individuals – many of whom are too frail to shop on their own – these deliveries offer critical nourishment and a regular wellness check-in.

Food Bank for NYC: The Yankees provided the Food Bank for New York City with donations aimed at enhancing food distribution across the surrounding communities. As the city’s largest hunger-relief organization, the Food Bank for New York City employs a multifaceted approach centered on helping New Yorkers overcome their circumstances and achieve greater independence.

In association with the Food Bank and Major League Baseball, the Yankees also held an online auction during the summer that featured a limited edition “separate but together” Yankees t-shirt. All proceeds supported the Food Bank’s continuing efforts across New York City.

In addition, the Yankees also partnered with the Food Bank to host a pop-up food distribution at Yankee Stadium in mid-September. The event helped provide non-perishable food to over 2,300 Bronx residents of all ages, enough to sustain approximately 500 local families.

Frontline Healthcare Workers Ceremony: Along with NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and the 1199SEIU Workers Union, the Yankees honored 11 frontline healthcare workers prior to their 2020 home opener vs. the Boston Red Sox on Friday, July 31. These individuals have been at the forefront of the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, continuously risking their lives for the betterment of others. As part of the pregame ceremony, players from both the Yankees and Red Sox banged on metal trays to salute the medical workers, as has been custom each evening in New York when such individuals across the city change shifts.

Hispanic Federation: The Yankees provided the Hispanic Federation with funds supporting the organization’s Emergency Assistance Fund for Latino nonprofits. The goal of the fund is to assist Latino health and human service providers as they simultaneously confront the COVID-19 pandemic and fight to provide a wide range of urgently needed services to marginalized groups living in poverty.

In addition, the Yankees also teamed up with Clancy Moving to assist the Hispanic Federation with food deliveries to NYC residents in need of common, daily items such as milk. Throughout the summer, Clancy provided the transportation for the donations which were supplemented with increased and varied supplies on a weekly basis.

Hostos Community College: The Yankees provided Hostos Community College in the Bronx with a donation that helped its students and members of the local community with necessary emergency assistance to address concerns directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hostos’ mission is to create opportunities for students who may not otherwise be able to afford attending college.

NYC Department of Education: The Yankees and the New York City Department of Education (DOE) joined forces to enhance the DOE’s at-home curriculum. Launched in the spring, Yankees strength and conditioning coaches created a virtual program aimed at maintaining and promoting the fitness and wellness of each student taking part in online interactive lessons.

NYC Health + Hospitals: In late August, the Yankees teamed up with New York City Health + Hospitals to encourage New Yorkers to get tested for COVID-19. As part of the City’s Get Tested Tuesday campaign, the Yankees provided free team merchandise as an incentive to encourage individuals to visit various testing locations across the city and take part in an examination. More than 4,000 New Yorkers participated in the initiative, helping to produce a broader awareness of the availability of such tests throughout the five boroughs.

Salvation Army of Greater NY: The Yankees and the Salvation Army of Greater New York combined efforts to identify a plan of action and gather resources associated with sustaining the Salvation Army’s 38 feeding centers located throughout the city, particularly in the Bronx.

Silver Shield Foundation: With the help of the Silver Shield Foundation, the Yankees and their training staff teamed up with partner test labs to help distribute COVID-19 test kits to members of the FDNY.

In addition, and in association with Yankees Baseball Summer Camps, free 2020 registration codes were provided to families of frontline workers and first responders of the FDNY and NYPD for in-person and virtual camp sessions. These camps offer young ballplayers the unique opportunity to enhance their skills and overall wellness – with an emphasis on teamwork, attitude and healthy competition. The unique baseball curriculum helps players of all abilities develop both on and off the field while teaching lessons such as resiliency, optimism and goal setting.

Small Business Emergency Grant Program: In response to the impact that small businesses in the Bronx endured as a result of looting during public protests, the Yankees made a contribution to the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City in support of the Small Business Emergency Grant Program. The program was established to help accelerate and supplement the recovery, repairs and resources for many affected establishments that had already been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Supportive Children’s Advocacy Network: In an effort to help support the Supportive Children’s Advocacy Network’s (SCAN) efforts to continue to provide various integrated programs for underserved children and families in East Harlem and the South Bronx, the Yankees provided funds to address the program’s increasing needs. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, services have required enhanced food distribution and assistance with identifying and securing crucial resources.

USO of Metropolitan NY: The Yankees made a contribution to the USO of Metropolitan New York aimed at supporting their support services for service members deployed/working on the front lines in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

1199SEIU Workers Union: In an effort to help increase morale in the city’s initial stages battling COVID-19, Yankees Manager Aaron Boone sent along a private and unique message of encouragement to the members of the 1199SEIU workers union. This union encompasses many of the first responders and healthcare workers who have made a commitment and dedication to help keep the entire city of New York safe.