Mets Community Insider

New York Mets legend John Franco, along with Mr. and Mrs. Met, joined the Amazin¡¯ Mets Foundation to ring the NASDAQ Opening Bell on November 21. The event marked the unofficial kick off to the Foundation¡¯s MetsGiving season ¨C a series of programs held throughout November and December that focus on supporting the community during the holidays.

The Amazin¡¯ Mets Foundation distributed 8,500 turkeys to New Yorkers in need ahead of Thanksgiving as part of their tenth annual MetsGiving Turkey Giveaway, presented by your local Toyota dealers. New York Mets legend John Franco joined Mr. and Mrs. Met to help distribute the turkeys at the various community partner locations on November 22. Individuals receiving the turkeys were also given a voucher for tickets to select Mets home games in 2025 and a MetsGiving tote bag.

The Foundation partnered with a network of 20 community partners across New York City for the giveaway.

Toyota generously provided transportation to enable Front Office staff volunteers to assist with in-person distributions across all five boroughs, featuring locations such as Queens Community Justice Center, New York Common Pantry in Manhattan, Part of the Solution in the Bronx, Project Hospitality in Staten Island, and Maimonides Park in Brooklyn.

The Mets hosted their 18^th annual MetsGiving Food Drive benefiting Food Bank For New York City on November 19. Individuals who donated at least 10 non-perishable items received one voucher redeemable for two tickets to select Monday ¨C Thursday Mets home games in 2025. The Mets Team Store also offered a 20% discount to those who donated.

Mr. and Mrs. Met stopped by to help collect more than 13,000 pounds of food, which is equivalent to over 10,800 meals. Food Bank For New York City will distribute the food collected throughout the holiday season.

Food Bank For New York City aims to empower every New Yorker to achieve food security for good. They work with 800+ soup kitchens, food pantries, and campus partners to provide immediate and reliable access to food and nutrition education.

On November 7, the Amazin¡¯ Mets Foundation, in partnership with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation and The LandTek Group, celebrated the official opening of the newly renovated Field #1 at Juniper Valley Park in Queens with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

With a contribution exceeding $430,000, the Foundation transformed Field #1, incorporating an upgraded irrigation and drainage system, a complete infield renovation, and new fencing and concrete work. This marks the Foundation¡¯s third neighborhood field renovation, following improvements to Fields #10 and #11 at Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

Earlier in November, the Amazin¡¯ Mets Foundation hosted its Sandlot Stars equipment donation and Junior Mets baseball clinic at the Mets Dominican Academy, presented by Hospital for Special Surgery, in Boca Chica. In collaboration with Pitch In For Baseball & Softball, the Foundation provided brand-new equipment to 30 local youth baseball and softball teams in the Dominican Republic.

The two-day event began with a morning stretch session led by Hospital for Special Surgery staff, followed by an exclusive tour of the academy, where participants explored the clubhouse, classrooms, and players¡¯ lounge. After the tour, attendees watched a Mets-Padres game from the field and later enjoyed lunch and the equipment distribution ceremony, where the youth teams received their new gear.

On the second day, the athletes had the unique opportunity to work with academy players and coaches during a Junior Mets clinic, focusing on skill development in baseball and softball.