Social Responsibility
The New York Yankees are committed to supporting community-based organizations that provide positive social outlets for New York City youth.
Formalized in September of 2020 and announced in February of 2021, the New York Yankees Diversity and Inclusion Committee is dedicated to identifying, engaging, and addressing issues related to equality, racial justice, and inclusivity. The creation of this group was the result of an extended period of planning and collaboration with community leaders and within the Yankees organization to determine the appropriate framework for imparting meaningful and long-lasting change. Precipitated by the profound impact of senseless tragedies in communities throughout our nation, this Committee¡¯s mission focuses on identifying and combating disparities and systemic inequities that obstruct socioeconomic fairness and progress for marginalized groups.
The Committee is comprised of a dedicated and diverse network of Yankees staff members, on-field personnel, alumni, and outside community leaders and business partners. The shared goal has been to identify ways to combine resources and utilize the panel¡¯s various prominent public platforms to address and eradicate barriers that impede access, diversity, inclusion, and opportunity for our neighbors around Yankee Stadium and in the larger metropolitan community.
The Yankees again partnered with the Sanitation Foundation, the New York City Department of Sanitation, the Bronx Borough President¡¯s office and Amazon on a Bronx Community Clean-Up Series that ran from July through August. The initiative aimed to help fight litter during the summer months by incentivizing local residents to help clean up their local communities on designated days in a competition-style format. Each volunteer also received a voucher valid for two tickets to a select Yankees 2023 home game. Overall, 600 volunteers gathered at various locations in the Bronx, combining to collect a total of 5,203 lbs. of trash.
In addition, the winning team from the Mt. Eden section of the Bronx was recognized and welcomed at Yankee Stadium in a suite space on September 8, where they enjoyed the Yankees-Brewers game.
The Yankees and the Food Bank for New York City continued their longstanding partnership by assisting Bronx residents facing heightened food insecurities in these challenging times via monthly ¡°pop-up¡± food distributions at Yankee Stadium. The distributions ¡ª which began in May of 2021 ¡ª provide 500 families per month with access to shelf stable food items and fresh produce.
Throughout the 2023 regular season, the Yankees continued to recognize individuals who have dedicated their lives to making a difference in the community. Guests included personnel in the health, education, and social responsibility fields, among others.
The Yankees partnered with New Settlement in support of the Bronx-wide Gun Violence Prevention Initiative. New Settlement is a Bronx nonprofit organization that aims to break systemic barriers, advance justice, promote leadership and strengthen neighborhoods in the borough. In 2021-22 rising gun violence has continued to impact communities throughout New York City, but none more deeply than in the Bronx. With responsive funding and support from New York State, New Settlement became the lead agency of a Bronx-wide Gun Violence Prevention Initiative. In the past year New Settlement and their two program partners, Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club and the Northwest Bronx YMCA, have worked in partnership to create enriching program activities for over 600 Bronx youth, ages 12-24, who reside in the zip codes plagued with elevated levels of gun violence. Their youth engagement programs are inspiring the young men and women to make positive life choices, serve as positive role models and become the change agents we need to inspire peace in their communities.
The Yankees hosted the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Workforce1 Job & Resource Fair for job seekers and small business owners on May 22, 2023 at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees hosted the fair in support of SBS¡¯s celebration of Small Business Month, which shines a light on the efforts, hard work and courage of small businesses in making our community a better place. At the fair, job seekers were able to meet with career advisors and recruiters, apply for job opportunities, participate in r¨¦sum¨¦ and interview skill-building workshops, receive free financial counseling and find connections to other community resources.
In mid-August, the Yankees announced a 50/50 Raffle Program at Yankee Stadium, giving fans the opportunity to support local charities through the New York Yankees Foundation. The program, which was first initiated during the July 25 home game vs. the Mets and utilizes a software platform from Ascend Fundraising Solutions, was and will continue to be available during Yankees home games at Yankee Stadium.
To participate in the 50/50 Raffle Program, guests at Yankee Stadium may purchase raffle tickets, and one lucky fan with the winning ticket number will win half of the net proceeds of the raffle for that game, with the other half of the net proceeds benefiting New York Yankees Foundation programs and other nonprofit organizations. Additionally, in the near future, 50/50 raffle tickets may be purchased online by fans at Yankee Stadium and throughout New York State.
On January 20th, the Yankees partnered with NYC Councilwoman Althea Stevens to host a Senior Luncheon at Yankee Stadium to celebrate and acknowledge local seniors, as well as the contributions they have made in the community. The Yankees continued collaborative efforts with Councilwoman Stevens on July 19th, where seniors were joined by youth from the Renaissance Youth Center and SCAN-Harbor at the second Senior Luncheon to bridge the intergenerational gap in the community.
On September 28, 2023, the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (BXEDC) held their annual board meeting at Yankee Stadium presenting their year in review, which includes the Bronx Beat, a tour through the Bronx¡¯s historical, cultural, and culinary institutions in partnership with the YES Network. BXEDC, who provides capital access to Bronx small businesses with capital and opportunities to grow and continue thriving, has recently announced their $10 million Bronx Loan fund.
Holiday Cheer
In celebration of the holiday season, the Yankees spread holiday cheer to their neighbors.
The Yankees and Krasdale Foods teamed up once again to hold a Thanksgiving Food Voucher Giveaway. Several thousand food vouchers were distributed at Yankee Stadium on November 16, 2023, to Bronx residents to assist local families in preparing their Thanksgiving meals.
The Yankees, Legends Hospitality and the Supportive Children's Advocacy Network New York collaborated to host a traditional Thanksgiving Feast on November 17, 2023, for several hundred local residents at the Rev. T. Wendell Foster Recreation Center, across the street from Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees partnered with members of the Bronx Clergy to host the annual Holiday Food Drive on December 6, at Yankee Stadium. Over 60,000 pounds of food was collected and distributed to families in need throughout the Bronx. In addition, 4,000 $25 food vouchers were allocated to Bronx residents for redemption at local C-Town or Bravo Supermarkets to assist with the expenses related to preparing a holiday meal.
The Yankees also hosted a virtual Holiday Food Drive that generated approximately $22,000 towards the purchase of food to be dispersed. For every $40 donated online to the Virtual Holiday Food Drive, fans received an offer code valid for two (2) tickets to select Yankees 2024 regular season home games and an entry to win a Yankees prize basket that included Legends Suite tickets and a Gerrit Cole signed baseball and jersey.
Yankee Stadium transformed into the North Pole on December 15, when the Yankees hosted Winter Wonderland in conjunction with Walmart, Neil and Amanda Friedman, Legends Hospitality, American Foliage and Clancy Moving. Over 3,000 local youth were treated to a holiday extravaganza in Yankee Stadium¡¯s Great Hall, complete with holiday decorations, festive music, food and drink, and caroling by the Renaissance Youth Center Choir. Each child in attendance also had an opportunity to go home with a holiday gift of their choosing. In total, over 7,000 toys were distributed to area youth during the month of December.
The New York Yankees, NYPD¡¯s 44th Precinct and the Food Bank For New York City held a special ¡°pop-up¡± food and toy distribution at the 44th Precinct with the help and support of Yankees Manager Aaron Boone.
The ¡°pop-up¡± food distributions have been a monthly staple at Yankee Stadium since May 2021 ¡ª providing 500 families per month with access to shelf stable food items and fresh produce. Those who received groceries also received a $25 food voucher along with a holiday toy to provide to a young member of the family.
HOPE Week
Introduced in 2009, the Yankees' HOPE Week initiative (Helping Others Persevere & Excel) is rooted in the fundamental belief that acts of goodwill provide hope and encouragement to more than just the recipient of the gesture.