If you're in the giving spirit, here are ways to help your favorite Yankees give back:
Derek Jeter - Turn 2 Foundation: "To create and support signature programs and activities that motivate young people to turn away from drugs and alcohol and "TURN 2" healthy lifestyles. Through these ventures, the Foundation strives to create outlets that promote and reward academic excellence, leadership development and positive behavior. Turn 2's goal is to see the children of these programs grow safely and successfully into adulthood and become the leaders of tomorrow."
CC Sabathia - Pitcch In Foundation: "Started in 2009, the PitCCh In Foundation is lead by CC, his wife Amber, his mother Margie and a dedicated team of professional staff and volunteers. Each undertaking of the organization is done with careful consideration and the intimate involvement of CC who works to ensure that the results to be achieved are fulfilling the promise of the organization’s mission to enrich the lives of inner city youth, a place CC himself had been."
Mark Teixeira - Mark Teixeira Charitable Foundation helping Harlem RBI: "The Mark Teixeira Charitable Foundation supports community based initiatives that invest in the future of young people through innovative curriculum. Funding efforts focus on grants supporting educational scholarships and team building programs that encourage youth to work together in order to achieve a common goal while stressing the importance of community service."
Jorge Posada – Jorge Posada Foundation: “The Jorge Posada Foundation is a non-profit organization established by Laura and Jorge Posada in honor of their son and his successful struggle with Craniosynostosis. Craniosynostosis is a condition that affects 1 out of every 2,000 births in the United States. Early surgical intervention by a multi-disciplinary team of doctors is the key to effective treatment of the condition.”
David Robertson – High Socks for Hope: “The David and Erin Robertson Foundation, a donor advised fund with the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund, is dedicated to assisting those affected by the tornadoes in Tuscaloosa and throughout the state of Alabama. The foundation strives to lend support to charities and organizations helping those who suffered loss and were affected by this tragedy.”
Curtis Granderson – Grand Kids Foundation: “Curtis’ mission is to enforce educational initiatives to youth and to help bring the sport of baseball back to the nation’s inner cities. The Grand Kids Foundation was established in 2008 as an educational-based organization. Through a variety of yearly events, sponsorships and donations, the Grand Kids Foundation will be able to achieve many of Curtis’s goals within the community”
Nick Swisher – Swish’s Wishes: “The Nick Swisher Foundation’s “Swish’s Wishes” is dedicated to enriching lives and lifting the spirits of children who are facing vital health issues while providing care, comfort and support through the most difficult of times.”
Robinson Cano – RC24 Foundation: “To touch the lives of underprivileged children in the Dominican Republic and around the world in order to improve their opportunities and better their future.”
Russell Martin – One Drop Foundation: “In Canada, ONE DROP is a charitable organization that develops integrated, innovative projects with an international scope, in which water plays a central role as a creative force in generating positive, sustainable effects for local and foreign populations and in the fight against poverty.”
Mariano Rivera – Mariano Rivera Foundation: The Mariano Rivera Foundation is to share with the community a portion of the blessings which God has bestowed on them and their family. The childhood challenges faced by the Rivera’s have been the inspiration for them to focus on the needs of children in similar situations. These needs include education, health and wellness and social and economic development in the local community. The Foundation exemplifies their mission statement by providing scholarships to qualified youth and sponsoring youth centers and churches that implement educational programs which benefit underprivileged families in their communities. The heartfelt intent of the foundation is to see that every effort and activity creates an everlasting impression on each life touched.
Alex Rodriguez – ARod Family Foundation (Not sure the status of this charity as it was with his ex-wife, but we know Rodriguez still does a lot for the Boys & Girls Club of Miami): “Our mission is to inspire and enable young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens.”
Joe Girardi – Catch 25: “Catch 25 is dedicated to providing support to families and individuals across the country who have been challenged with ALS, Alzheimers, cancer, and fertility issues. With a compassionate approach towards raising awareness and helping to find treatments and cures, Catch 25 provides assistance in a variety of ways to those struggling with disease and fertility.”
Plenty of other Yankees (without their own charities) are giving back too. Brett Gardner has been working with the Advil Congestion Relief Project, Joba Chamberlain helped Holmes Elementary in Lincoln, Nebraska build a walking track. We know Hank Steinbrenner has Hank’s Yanks and Brian Cashman lends his help to numerous charities as well.
Other Past Yankees:
Joe Torre – Safe at Home Foundation: “Ali and Joe Torre wanted to educate children about the issue of domestic violence. In 2002, they created the Joe Torre Safe At Home® Foundation. The mission of the Foundation is "educating to end the cycle of domestic violence and save lives". Initially, the Joe Torre Safe At Home® Foundation focused its resources on awareness building through a local and national multimedia campaign. However, the Joe Torre Safe At Home® Foundation quickly determined that they want to educate children about violence so that children understand that they are not alone and that there is hope.
In 2005, the Joe Torre Safe At Home® Foundation opened its first school-based programming initiative, Margaret's Place, at Hostos-Lincoln Academy, Bronx, NY. Margaret's Place, a tribute to his mom, is a comprehensive program which provides students with a safe room in school where they can meet with a professional counselor trained in domestic-violence intervention and prevention. Currently, the Joe Torre Safe At Home® Foundation has ten fully funded and operational Margaret's Places in New York City and Westchester County. The sites are fully funded and have a minimum commitment of three years.”
Dave Winfield – Winfield Foundation: “Dave Winfield was the first active athlete to establish a charitable foundation. From its humble beginnings in 1975, to an internationally acclaimed substance abuse prevention leader, the David M. Winfield Foundation, with a $4 million endowment (funded primarily by Winfield), provided services to underprivileged youth, families in need, and the cities in which he played.”
Roger Clemens – Roger Clemens Foundation: “The Roger Clemens Foundation is an entity dedicated to helping children. It was established in 1992 by Roger and Debbie Clemens in order to ensure that funds raised by the Foundation through golf tournaments, silent auctions and other events, would be properly distributed to the charities and organizations that they have committed to support. The Foundation exists for the purpose of carrying on and supporting educational, charitable, literary, scientific and religious activities for children, with a special emphasis on underprivileged and at-risk children, and children with special needs.”
David Cone – David Cone Foundation: “The David Cone Foundation began in 1996 to assist charities, sports and educational programs throughout the country, especially as they relate to children. David has spearheaded several programs that have given the foundation the chance to grow. All of this has been done in collaboration with Wish You Were Here Productions, including a Charity Softball Tournament in Central Park, which featured corporate sponsors such as Chase Bank, Merrill Lynch, Microsoft, NYMEX, and more.”
Yogi Berra – Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center: “Yogi Berra’s values, extraordinary accomplishments and lifelong commitment to the education of young people are the inspiration and foundation of the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center. Since officially opening its doors on Dec. 4, 1998, with students and teachers from the Bradford Academy in Montclair being the first public visitors, the YBMLC has become a hugely popular destination for sports fans and educators alike. It is also recognized as the New York metropolitan area’s premier sports education center.”
Reggie Jackson – Mr. October Foundation for Kids: “I started The Mr. October Foundation for Kids in 1997 with the simple desire to provide access to computers and the Internet for kids who needed it. I saw that this technology was the path to a student's success and a way for them to compete on a global basis. Without access to computers and the Internet they would fall further behind and never catch up. Our mission has evolved beyond this simple desire to "bridge the digital divide". With our collective brain power, economic power and technological power we wish to build as many bridges as we can to create a better world for today's at-risk children. Access to technology is one bridge but next, and even more importantly, is the relevant content area. We must attack the financial hardships for the student, the schools, the teachers and families at home.”
Willie Randolph – Willie Randolph Foundation: “Established in May 2006, Willie Randolph, the Foundation supports programs and initiatives for improving athletic opportunities for boys and girls in the New York metropolitan area. With the objective of inspiring and providing positive leadership to inner-city children and young adults, the Foundation places special emphasis on supporting youth baseball programs and improving playing facilities.”
Darryl Strawberry – Darryl Strawberry Foundation: “Fight for Autism. Meeting the need while waiting for the cure. To ensure quality of life for individuals affected by autism through the development of programs that focus on special education, socialization, and independent skills training in a structured learning and caring environment.”
Mike Mussina – Mike Mussina Foundation: In 2003, the Foundation began awarding scholarships to a graduating senior from each of twelve area high schools. A national scholarship program was also launched in conjunction with a number of organizations and corporations.
Don Mattingly – Mattingly Charities: Mattingly Baseball Charities has been created to serve underprivileged youth by supporting programs which promote baseball and softball participation in conjunction with other developmentally related activities. Mattingly Charities will provide funding and services and equipment for baseball, softball, and ultimately other sports, and related youth development activities, for the benefit of underprivileged youth, youth leagues, and social welfare and related organizations. 100% of the efforts of the organization will be focused on these activities.
Mickey Mantle – Mickey Mantle Foundation: “We would like to thank you and all of the members of "Mickey's Team" for your interest and support over the years. We're touched every day by the legacy Mickey left regarding the importance of organ donation. There is no telling how many people have benefited from his promotion of this important activity. If you have a question, a request or a donation, please contact your local organ and tissue bank. To find your nearest organ bank, please visit the United Network for Organ Sharing at: http://www.unos.org/members/search.asp.”
Lou Gehrig (sort of) – ALS Association: “Established in 1985, The ALS Association is the only non-profit organization fighting Lou Gehrig’s Disease on every front. By leading the way in global research, providing assistance for people with ALS through a nationwide network of chapters, coordinating multidisciplinary care through certified clinical care centers, and fostering government partnerships, The Association builds hope and enhances quality of life while aggressively searching for new treatments and a cure.” There is also a Catfish Chapter in honor of Catfish Hunter to the ALS Association.
Joe DiMaggio – Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital: “Established in 1992, Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital combines advanced technology and the expertise of the largest, most diverse group of board-certified pediatric specialists in the region. With its summer 2011 expansion, Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital now has 204 beds and is South Florida's newest freestanding children's hospital.”
Roger Maris – Roger Maris Celebrity Golf Tournament: “Our mission is two-fold, to create a first class event for hundreds of sports fans who come to Fargo from across the United States, and to raise money (over $1,500,000 so far) for thousands of people in our community who benefit from Hospice, the Roger Maris Cancer Center and Shanley. We are very grateful to the area businesses, volunteers and contributors for supporting this event with so much dedication.”
