The Phillies players take pride in their on-field accomplishments but they are equally as proud of the positive work that they are doing to give back to the community. Each year individual players take part in special meet and greets both at Citizens Bank Park and in the community.
Many players host their own ticketing program that allows them to meet with deserving organizations. Others have their own foundations to support causes close to their hearts.
We invite you to learn about what the Phillies players are doing to give back to the community that gives so much to them.
The Halladay Family Foundation was launched in 2011 and is committed to hunger initiatives, animal rescue, and children's charities.
See photos from The Halladay's Food Fight for Philabundance event »
When joining the Phillies in December of 2009, Roy Halladay jumped right in with his Doc's Box charitable ticket program, purchasing a suite to host 11 community groups during the season.
The Halladay Family Foundation hosted a Charity Baseball Tournament for kids aged 10 and under December 2-4 and December 16-18. Proceeds benefited the Halladay Family Foundation.
In July 2011 the Phillies community united for Phans Feeding Families to support Philabundance's hunger relief efforts in the Delaware Valley. Throughout the month of July, fans united to fight hunger by supporting food drives, purchasing program pins, and making direct financial contributions. A special public service announcement recorded by Roy Halladay was also shown during Phillies broadcasts throughout July to encourage fans to participate. On July 31 the program was highlighted before and ruing the Phillies-Pirates game. Halladay and his wife Brandy made an appearance at a pre-game fundraiser attended by nearly 200 fans.
Roy and Brandy Halladay continue their efforts to fight hunger »
In 2008, Cole and his wife Heidi founded The Hamels Foundation with a focus on enhancing academic opportunities for children in Philadelphia, across the United States and internationally. Their hope is that through their foundation the lives of children will be enriched by giving them the tools to achieve their goals. They also support Home Aid for Africa, a local organization which works to alleviate the suffering of HIV/AIDS patients in Africa.
On August 27, Cole and Heidi Hamels along with over 750 attendees came out to the Crystal Tea Room sporting their favorite denim attire and sparkly jewelry to benefit local Philadelphia schools and the promotion of education in Malawi, Africa. The guests including corporate sponsors, celebrities professional athletes and reality stars who enjoyed a night of cocktails and hors d'oeuvres followed by a three course dinner. The night featured a live and silent auction and a private concert from John Legend! In addition all guests had the opportunity to win designer jeans or diamond jewelry from Benari Jewelers. The event was a huge success raising $550,000. In 2011 the event raised over $450,000.
In an effort to instill lessons about science and technology as well as teaching the children of Bayard Taylor Elementary School about teamwork and physical education the Hamels Foundation unveiled a completely renovated and environmentally green play yard for the 565 students in grades K-5 who currently attend the school. The new play yard replaces an area that resembled a flat parking lot where the North Philadelphia school students used to play. On August 8th, the Hamels along with over 100 community volunteers unveiled the $300,000 brand new state-of-the-art playground which included a greenhouse, an iPad /tech learning center, chess/checkerboard station and soccer field. The Foundation believes the investment in Bayard Taylor will create a friendly environment where children can develop social and academic skills to build upon throughout their lives.
On June 1, 2012, the Hamels Foundation announced plans to help renovate Bayard Taylor Elementary School.
In 2011 Cole and Heidi Hamels awarded $50,000 grants education grants to Swenson Arts & Technology High School and Shaw Middle School. Fifteen additional schools received monetary grants totaling over $200,000.
The Hamels Foundation is committed to providing assistance to inner-city schools in the United States.
Cole Hamels established a charitable ticket program called Hamels' Heroes in 2011 to provide U.S. Military Veterans and their guests with Phillies game tickets, concession coupons and T-Shirts. Several groups will have the unique opportunity to watch batting practice on the field.
Cole and wife Heidi created Hamels' Heroes as a show of appreciation to all the servicemen and women who sacrifice each day to protect our freedom.
Hamels was awarded the Phillies Community Service Award in 2009 in recognition of his outstanding charitable contributions. He also was the Phillies award recipient for the Roberto Clemente Award in 2009.
Many fans joined Ryan Howard on Thursday, July 19, 2012 at Morton's, The Steakhouse in Center City Philadelphia for his third annual Celebrity Servers event. The event featured Ryan along with his teammates and celebrity friends serving up a delicious four-course meal while silent and live auctions took place. Stay tuned for details regarding the 2013 event.
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The Ryan Howard Family Foundation was launched in 2009 with a goal of improving the lives of disadvantaged youth and families. This is achieved primarily through the development and implementation of programs that advance education, health and fitness, and socio-economic status.
The Foundation currently helps to fund programs in the Philadelphia and St. Louis areas. One of the foundation's first initiatives was to award a $50,000 grant to Hunting Park in North Philadelphia which is being used to restore a baseball diamond.
For the past two years, through a partnership with the United Negro College Fund he has donated over $200,000 in scholarship aid to ingoing freshman attending an accredited four-year institution.
Ryan Howard donated $1.2 million dollars worth of athletic equipment and uniforms to the School District of Philadelphia. The gift will benefit 57 high schools and four middle schools. Uniforms will be matched to their schools colors.
This season Howard is introducing a new ticket program for children participating in PAL (Police Athletic League) called Howard's Sluggers. Howard will meet with the children prior to batting practice and provide game tickets, T-Shirts and concessions.
Ryan annually helps the Phillies salute Jackie Robinson's legacy and honors the surviving members of the Philadelphia Stars Negro League team.
Howard has supported the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, worked with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to grant special wishes by meeting with children and teens suffering from serious illness and supported Philadelphia Futures, a mentoring program for inner-city students.
Ryan was the 2011 Phillies Community Service Award winner and the local Roberto Clemente Jr. Award recipient.
Ryan received an Honorary Badge from the Philadelphia Police Athletic League during "PAL Night at the Phillies" in August 2008, recognizing his community service.
During the 2011 season Kyle Kendrick became involved with the March of Dimes whose focus in on improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Kyle hosted 14-year old Jake Koerner of Mt. Laurel, NJ and his family at a Phillies game providing a behind the scenes tour where he brought Jake into the batting cages to meet some of his favorite Phillies.
At the second Annual Shining Stars Awards event benefiting the March of Dimes on February 3, Kyle presented Jake with a Shining Stars award.
Cliff Lee introduced Lee's VIPs to bring deserving children and patients from local organizations to a game. Lee provides tickets, T-shirts and food concessions.
Lee made a $1 million donation, in honor of their son Jaxon, to Arkansas Children's Hospital (ACH) to fund an endowed chair in pediatric hematology/oncology. Jaxon battled cancer (acute myeloid leukemia -AML) at ACH as an infant.
John Mayberry, Jr. spoke to members of the Phillies Jr. RBI and RBI Leagues about his workout regimen and what he does to stay healthy.
Each year the Phillies hold their annual Home Run Derby baseball and softball hitting contest for children ages 7-12 years old. Over 22,000 children participate with the top hitters advancing through local and regional competition to reach the championship at Citizens Bank Park. Mayberry presented the top three finishers in each division with their trophy.
The Jimmy Rollins Family Foundation strives to help children and young adults living with arthritis by providing funds and awareness about the disease. The Foundation also supports families that are struggling financially to help their children participate in extracurricular activities.
In an effort to raise awareness and funds to benefit the Rollins Family Foundation and the Arthritis Foundation, Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins and his wife, Johari, hosted the seventh annual Celebrity BaseBOWL Tournament at Lucky Strike Bowling Lanes in Philadelphia on August 9, 2012.
The event, which raised $181,000 last year, helps send children to Camp JRA (Juveniles Reaching Achievement), a week-long camp for kids ages 8-18 with arthritis and other rheumatic diseases.
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Following the success of "Havana Nights" in 2011, the Jimmy Rollins Family Foundation hosted "Night in Paris", benefiting Prevent Child Abuse Pennsylvania, at the National Constitution Center on November 12, 2012.
Rollins and his wife, Johari, spoke on the red carpet about the group's importance. Prevent Child Abuse Pennsylvania works in collaboration with various local and statewide efforts to develop an approach to child-abuse prevention. Johari first became aware of the group when she met a board member two years ago.
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Rollins developed JRoll's Aces in 2007 to reward children in disadvantaged areas excelling in the classroom. Jimmy met with groups on field during batting practice and answered questions and signed autographs.
Jimmy provides each participant with a game ticket, T-shirt and food voucher.
Since 2002 Jimmy honors top readers for their dedication to literacy during the summer months. In July 2010 he welcomed 50 top readers, dubbed JRoll's Readers, from the Philadelphia Reads Summer Reading program. Jimmy shared with students that his favorite book is Robinson Crusoe because when reading it he felt like he was on an adventure.
Jimmy annually helps the Phillies salute Jackie Robinson's legacy as well as honors the surviving members of the Philadelphia Stars Negro League team.
This season Carlos Ruiz is introducing a ticket program that will benefit children from local Latino organizations. Ruiz will meet with each group, provide tickets, T-Shirts and concessions.
Ruiz is a supporter of Philadelphia Futures, a mentoring program for inner-city students. Since 2010 he has acted as host of their annual "Get in the Game" charity bowling tournament which raised over $160,000 in 2011 for the program's Sponsor-A-Scholar program that helps low-income students achieve their dream of a college education.
Nearly 500 invited guests attended Utley All-Star Animals Casino night on April 28. The fourth annual event raised $320,895 for the PSPCA's Etana Fund to Stop Cruelty Against Animals, which helps prevent and protect against abuse and neglect through their Humane Law Enforcement department. Several of Chase's teammates attended to support the effort.
The Utley Foundation, the Pennsylvania SPCA and the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program invited students of Anna B. Pratt Elementary School to participate in poster, essay, and photo contests that asked children to express feelings and personal stories about animals.
Winners from each contest had their image incorporated into the "kindness to animals" themed mural which was designed by artist Willis Humphrey. On June 7, 2011, the Utleys unveiled the mural that was painted by students on a wall at 22nd and Dauphin Streets.
On September 27, 2012, the Utleys dedicated their second annual "Be Kind to Animals" themed mural, presented by the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program and the Utley Foundation. The mural, which promotes the proper care and treatment of animals, is located at McVeigh Recreation Center in Philadelphia.
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Utley, as part of his Chase's Champs program, annually spends close to $20,000 to purchase season tickets to benefit patients from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and St. Christopher's Hospital.
Since 2006 Chase has served as the chairman of the Phillies Jr. RBI/RBI Leagues which provide at risk children with the opportunity to play both baseball and softball. Chase has met with participants to give baseball tips, answer questions and help hand out gloves to those without one.
He has also helped grant the wishes of several children suffering from serious illness, by meeting them through the through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Chase has also supported Philadelphia Futures, a mentoring program for inner-city students.
