PHILADELPHIA, PA — Major League Baseball and Phillies Charities, Inc. will invest more than $5 million in community projects across Philadelphia ahead of the 2026 MLB All-Star Game, directing funds toward youth sports facilities, veterans services, literacy programs, food access initiatives, and historical preservation efforts as part of the league’s long-running All-Star Legacy program.
The investment is part of the 2026 All-Star Legacy Initiative, a community development program tied to the Midsummer Classic that has contributed nearly $125 million to host cities since its launch in 1997.
The projects reflect MLB’s strategy of using All-Star events to fund permanent community infrastructure while expanding access to sports, education, health services, and neighborhood resources in underserved areas.
“The 2026 All-Star Legacy initiative represents a vital intersection of innovation and community service,” said April Brown, MLB’s senior vice president of social responsibility. Brown said the projects are intended to support youth development, veterans services, and broader community access initiatives long after All-Star Week concludes.
Among the largest projects is a renovation of the Veterans Multi-Service Center in Philadelphia’s Old City neighborhood. Funding will replace a nonfunctioning elevator and transform the facility’s fifth floor into a 5,200-square-foot veterans resource center focused on mental health services, workforce development, job fairs, and trade certification programs.
The project will also include a therapeutic indoor gardening space and artwork created through veteran-led art therapy programs.
Another major investment will modernize Ashburn Field at FDR Park in South Philadelphia. The baseball complex, originally built using proceeds from the 1996 All-Star Game, hosts more than 125 events annually and serves as a home field for the Phillies Urban Youth Academy and Nike RBI programs.
The renovation will replace the existing grass and dirt surface with synthetic turf and install upgraded drainage infrastructure. According to MLB and the Phillies, weather-related cancellations currently eliminate more than 30% of scheduled events each year.
The refurbished field is expected to host games during 2026 All-Star Week, including events associated with the All-Star Commissioner’s Cup.
In North Philadelphia, Tree House Books will receive funding for a major literacy center expansion. Plans include a larger children’s library, expanded tutoring facilities, dedicated teen programming space, and baseball-themed educational areas designed to increase literacy engagement and after-school participation.
The project is expected to allow the nonprofit to serve additional students through one-on-one tutoring and educational programming.
MLB and Phillies Charities will also fund a redesign of Negro League Memorial Park in West Philadelphia, honoring the Philadelphia Stars, one of the Negro Leagues’ most prominent franchises.
The project includes four seven-foot sculptures representing Negro League players, a 150-foot artistic installation depicting a cheering crowd, and community participation from local students and youth baseball players who will serve as models for portions of the exhibit. The Philadelphia Stars played from 1933 through 1952.
Additional funding will support accessibility improvements at multiple Miracle League facilities throughout southeastern Pennsylvania. The grants will be used for field upgrades and program enhancements serving athletes with physical and cognitive disabilities.
The initiative also includes the launch of a Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Garden Mobile, a traveling program designed to deliver fresh produce, gardening education, and environmental programming to neighborhoods across the Philadelphia region.
According to project organizers, the mobile unit will distribute more than 20,000 pounds of fresh produce and nearly 300,000 seed starters annually while supporting community gardening efforts and food insecurity programs.
“Our fans and our city are the heart of everything we do,” said Bonnie Clark, president of Phillies Charities, Inc. “Through the 2026 All-Star Legacy initiative, we are proud to give back to the communities that support us every day.”
Beyond the legacy projects, MLB said proceeds from Gatorade All-Star Workout Day during the 2026 festivities will support national nonprofit partners, including the Jackie Robinson Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and Stand Up To Cancer.
As part of a separate partnership with America250, MLB Together also plans volunteer projects during All-Star Week, including improvements at the Shane Victorino Boys & Girls Club. The league’s broader initiative seeks to generate 250,000 volunteer hours nationwide in conjunction with the United States’ 250th anniversary celebration.
The 96th MLB All-Star Game will be played in Philadelphia in 2026. Additional All-Star Week community projects are expected to focus on military families, critically ill children through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and environmental sustainability initiatives.
More information is available at MLBTogether.com.
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