The New York Mets Foundation funds and promotes a variety of educational, social and athletic programs and other charitable causes. Founded in 1963, it continues its mission to invest in the future of our community, and to provide assistance to myriad organizations that benefit children and others in need.
A registered 501©3 charity, the Mets Foundation takes no portion of the funds raised to offset internal costs. The New York Mets pay 100% of the Foundation's overhead to ensure that the entirety of a donation is directed toward helping others. For more information, log on to metsfoundation.org »
The Mets annual Welcome Home Dinner raised over $550,000 for the Mets Foundation, which distributed all proceeds to the Katz Institute for Women's Health and Katz Women's Hospitals of North Shore-LIJ Health System and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Held on April 5, the event was attended by the entire Mets organization including players and coaches. The evening featured the presentation of the Ya Gotta Believe Award to Jay Horwitz, the Mets' longtime Vice President of Media Relations.
On June 1, the Mets hosted their 10th Annual Night to Believe fundraiser, sponsored by the Frye Company, in the Big Apple Section of Citi Field to benefit Project ALS, a non-profit organization renowned for their outstanding leadership in finding and funding treatments and a cure for Lou Gehrig's disease. The event included a pre-game reception, which featured John Franco and Mookie Wilson, and raised $230,000 for a total of almost $2.2 million over the past 10 years.
The 10th Annual Starlight Night at Citi Field, sponsored by the Mets and ARAMARK, raised $120,000 on June 18 and has now generated over $1 million for the Starlight Children Foundation, whose mission is to improve the quality of life for children who suffer from critical, chronic and life-threatening illnesses. This year's event, which included the wives of the Mets players and coaches, began with a pre-game reception in the Bullpen Plaza that included games and entertainment before guests enjoyed the game from the Big Apple Section of Citi Field.
The Mets have partnered with the Ronald McDonald House for the past eight years for "An Evening with the Mets" fundraiser at Shea Stadium and Citi Field. Held in the Empire Party Suites, this year's event raised $24,000. Over $175,000 has been raised for the House, which is a home-away-from-home for families of seriously ill children undergoing medical treatment.
To honor the memory of Hall of Fame sportswriter Jack Lang, who covered the Mets for over 25 years for the Long Island Press and the Daily News, the Mets support this annual fundraiser hosted by his children for the Epilepsy Foundation of Long Island. Over $155,000 has been raised in the past five years.
The Mets and their broadcast television partner, PIX11, team up for the annual Weather Education Day at Citi Field in May, a special field trip program and interactive pre-game meteorology lesson hosted by PIX 11 weather experts Mr. G and Linda Church for thousands of students from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. After getting the forecast, the kids settle in for an afternoon of baseball.
The Mets welcome over 7,500 students from local elementary and middle schools for Fitness & Nutrition Education Day at Citi Field each season in June. The one-hour, pre-game program emphasizes the importance of making healthy food choices and engaging in at least one hour of active play each day.
Since its founding in 1991, the Everybody Wins! Foundation has been a leading non-profit literacy and mentoring organization, pairing caring adult volunteers with children in elementary schools for weekly reading aloud and conversation. For the past 11 years, Mets employees have been matched with a fourth or fifth grade student at PS 92 in Corona, Queens, to share lunch and a good book every week from November through May. The Mets have added their own special touches to the program by arranging a Reading Rally at the school for all of the students, which featured Bobby Parnell and Kirk Nieuwenhuis in April; a Shadow Day at Citi Field to allow reading partners to see their mentors at work; and an annual 4th grade outing to the ballpark for a ballgame.
The Mets/Sharp Electronics Student Athlete Leadership Conference Series trains more than 1,200 student/athletes from 35 high schools on Long Island to deliver drug and alcohol abuse prevention programming to grade school children.
Conducted at Molloy College in Rockville Centre, LI, the workshops prepare the Student Athlete Leaders for their ongoing visits with fifth graders in their school districts. This Student Athlete Leadership Team promotes positive activities such as sports while also educating students about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.
The Mets and Citi, as part of their landmark partnership, have built on the team's longstanding relationship with the Jackie Robinson Foundation to support its education and leadership development program. The Foundation provides extensive mentoring and scholarships for college students who exemplify Jackie's humanitarian ideals and standard of excellence. The Mets established an endowed scholarship with the Foundation in 1996, which is created in perpetuity, to assist promising students in reaching their goals through a college education.
The Citi Field Kids program was launched in 2009 by Citi, the Jackie Robinson Foundation and the Mets to inspire and motivate kids to reach their fullest potential. United Neighborhood Houses and the YMCA of Greater New York coordinate the selection of 1,200 area students who will hear about the life and lessons of Jackie Robinson upon their arrival at Citi Field in the Jackie Robinson Rotunda. Jackie Robinson Foundation scholars and alumni serve as tour guides before the students hear from Mets alumni and Citi representatives in the auditorium. Then it's on to an afternoon of baseball.
The Greater New York Sandlot Athletic Alliance (GNYSAA) is "Serving New York City Children Through Baseball" as an umbrella organization to several metropolitan amateur baseball organizations representing 20,000 young people and 1,100 teams each year. The Mets provide financial support to citywide tournaments and programs of member organizations and team up with the Brooklyn Cyclones for the GNYSSA's annual All-Star Games for 15-16 and 17-18 year old players at MCU Park.
The YMCA Jr. Mets presented by Citi, is a comprehensive youth baseball program that emphasizes athletic and social skills as well as teaching how to improve health and wellness. An eight-week initiative that has introduced thousands of young people to baseball since its inception in 2001, the Mets support its members with caps and arrange for a player and coach to lead a baseball clinic at a YMCA site and at Citi Field.
The New York Mets wheelchair softball team spearheads the Major League Wheelchair Softball Tournament every September in the parking lot of Citi Field. Coordinated by the Wheelchair Sports Federation with the assistance of the Mets, Major League Baseball, New York City Parks and Recreation and the United Spinal Association, this unique two-day tourney showcases teams which have an affiliation with Major League Baseball Clubs. Past participants include Magee Phillies, Tampa Bay Rays, RIC Cubs, Vaughn White Sox, NEPVA Red Sox; Courage Rolling Twins, Oakland A's and the Yankees.
Check out all of the photos from the Major League Wheelchair Softball Tournament »
Amazin' Calls connects Mets players to fans from all walks of life who have their own special story. Throughout the season a player meets a deserving individual on the field before a game after having extended a personal invitation by phone. Whether a 'thank-you' for an extraordinary accomplishment or to provide a respite from a challenging illness or personal loss, they can look forward to a day at the ballpark just for them.
The Mets host annual Winter and Summer blood drives for the New York Blood Center and American Red Cross in the Caesars Club at Citi Field. Donors receive two tickets to a Mets game. Almost 6,500 pints of blood have been donated by Mets fans since the opening of Citi Field in 2009.
The Mets provide annual support to the New York Cares Coat Drive with their own "Warm-Up" Holiday Coat Drive at Citi Field in December. Fans who donated one or more coats received a pair of tickets to a Mets game. Ike Davis helped volunteers collect 1,267 coats.
"Feeding the Big Apple" presented by the Hain Celestial Group is a hunger relief initiative in which Mets players and front office personnel participate in activities throughout the season with long-time Mets partners City Harvest, Citymeals-on-Wheels, Island Harvest and Rock and Wrap It Up! In addition, food drives are scheduled throughout the season at Citi Field to allow fans to do their part by dropping off food donations at the City Harvest or Island Harvest truck on Mets Plaza outside the Jackie Robinson Rotunda.
The New York Mets hosted their annual Holiday Food Drive for City Harvest at Citi Field in November. Fans who donated at least 10 items of nutritious food received a pair of tickets to a Mets game. Dillon Gee and Bobby Parnell stopped by to show appreciation to the many fans who participated.
Kids Day at Citi Field has become a tradition for children and families served by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of New York City. The Citi Field grounds crew gives the group a lesson in preparing the field for a game before the kids take a home run dash around the bases. After a lunch break in the Modell's Clubhouse, a Mets player and coach treat the children to a baseball clinic in the outfield.
The Mets continued their tradition of inviting local school children to the ballpark for their annual Kids Holiday Party in December. This year's special guests were 100 students from Far Rockaway whose schools and homes were damaged by Hurricane Sandy. John Franco reprised his role of Santa Claus for the occasion and Ike Davis was his chief elf, helping out with the serving of lunch and distribution of gifts selected and wrapped by Mets employees.
TeamMets is an initiative designed to bring attention to how people can volunteer in their communities. The ownership, front office, players and staff of the Mets will show their TeamMets spirit by making community service appearances throughout the year in support of this program meant to inspire and encourage our fans to consider their own commitment to volunteerism.
There are many levels of volunteerism, whether it's a visit to your local senior center, library or elementary school or joining one of the many non-profit service organizations located in New York City. To find out more about the variety of ways in which you can serve, visit nycservice.org.
The Mets partner with MLB each year for "Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer," a program that incorporates numerous facets of the game on and off the field to generate awareness about breast cancer and raise funds to help fight the disease. The Honorary Bat Girl Contest extends the partnership and raises greater awareness and support for the breast cancer cause. Mother's Day games feature special in-park programs and a 'pink theme' throughout, including many players using pink bats.
Mets Chairman & CEO Fred Wilpon and private citizens created Welcome Back Veterans, a national public awareness and fundraising initiative that addresses the mental health needs of America's returning war veterans and their families. Major League Baseball, Major League Baseball Advanced Media and the McCormick Foundation working with University Hospitals throughout the country, support the program, which provides returning veterans the quality medical treatment they deserve. The Mets salute a "Veteran of the Game" at each home game at Citi Field throughout the season.
The Roberto Clemente Award, presented by Chevy, recognizes the player in Major League Baseball who best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team. In September, a nominee from each of the 30 MLB teams is announced on Roberto Clemente Day, which was established by MLB in 2002 to pay homage to the Hall of Famer's legacy. The 2012 nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award is pitcher Johan Santana.
Aquafina MLB Pitch, Hit and Run -- the league's official skills competition -- is a free grass roots program which encourages youth participation and emphasizes the fun of baseball. The competitor's ability to hit, run, field and throw is tested at regional trials and compared with others in his or her age group across the United States to qualify for the National Finals held during MLB's All-Star Game. The Mets host an on-field regional competition at Citi Field each season and recognize the local winners in a pre-game ceremony.
Major League Baseball teams up with the Prostate Cancer Foundation to increase awareness and early detection of prostate cancer on Father's Day. On-field personnel wear blue wristbands, eye glare and ribbon uniform decals, blue ribbon logos appear on bases, commemorative home plates and lineup cards. A "Home Run Challenge" fundraising component is implemented during select MLB games to benefit the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
To support the growth of youth baseball and softball, the Baseball Tomorrow Fund (BTF) has teamed up with MLB Baseball Clubs to organize equipment collection drives across the United States. The Mets have collected over 1,000 bats, gloves, balls and catcher's gear the past five seasons to benefit The Greater New York Sandlot Athletic Alliance, which distributes the donations to area youth baseball organizations. The BTF also presents a grant of $5,000 to go toward the purchase of additional equipment.
In partnership with the Major League Baseball Players' Association, the Mets invite 50 underprivileged children to Citi Field where they participate in a question and answer session with Mets players. They are given tickets to the game, T-shirts and food vouchers for dinner at the ballpark.
The Mets team up with the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society each year to host 100 youth at Citi Field to teach them valuable lessons regarding the importance of exercise and the dangers of steroids. The children learn exercises from the Mets training staff and participate in a question and answer session with a Mets player about the importance of living healthy.
The Mets partner with Major League Baseball umpires to offer memorable baseball game experiences for children awaiting adoption and at-risk youth in mentoring programs. Children receive a VIP experience including great seats to see the Mets at Citi Field, a goody bag of 'all things baseball', and the unique opportunity to step onto the field for a souvenir baseball and photo.
Check out all of the photos from the Mets involvement in MLB Partnerships »
