'Independence Floor' unveiled at vet center as part of All-Star charitable efforts
PHILADELPHIA -- At the Veterans Multi-Service Center (VMC) on North 4th St., a broken elevator was far more than an everyday inconvenience -- it was a recurring barrier to critical care.
On days when the 40-year-old machine was down, which happened for roughly 100 days out of every calendar year, VMC staff members had to step up and manually carry nonambulatory veterans up five flights of stairs so they could access the benefits, housing assistance and counseling services they earned.
On Monday morning, that barrier was permanently dismantled.
As part of the 2026 All-Star Legacy initiative, Major League Baseball and Phillies Charities, Inc. unveiled a transformative joint infrastructure donation at the VMC’s headquarters. The project funded the complete replacement of the building's unreliable elevator and fully renovated the former fifth-floor storage area into a modernized, fully accessible mental health and wellness hub known as the "Independence Floor."
The physical reality of the upgrade wasn't lost on the crowd of officials, residents and veterans in attendance.
"Just five months ago, I stood on this very floor, which was then nothing more than inaccessible storage space," said Joe Brooks, executive director of the VMC. "A space we had to climb five flights of stairs to reach. Via my Apple Watch, I can tell you that a flight up and a flight down is 1,048 steps. So the new elevator is truly transformational."
To beat the tight five-month deadline leading up to the Midsummer Classic, the Philadelphia Building Trades Council went all in. Union crews worked double shifts, starting at 5 a.m. on weekends, while various locals -- including electricians, carpenters, plumbers, steamfitters and sprinkler fitters -- agreed to wage concessions to keep the project on time and on budget.
The resulting space features custom artwork created by local artists and veterans from Operation Mud, alongside a therapeutic indoor garden designed by Heroic Gardens to host wellness workshops.
For the veterans who rely on the center, the structural overhaul represents something much deeper than fresh drywall and new machinery.
"When you are a veteran, you are trained to be self-sufficient. Sometimes asking for help is the hardest mission you will ever have to undertake," explained Cyndee Shankin, a retired U.S. Army Reserve sergeant and veteran service officer at the VMC. "For the veteran who has been dealing with a mobility injury, that new elevator isn't just a machine. It's a symbol that they're not going to be left behind or excluded."
The event highlighted the VMC’s mission. VMC board vice president Jim Davies, a Marine Corps veteran, initially came to the center as a client seeking help transitioning back to civilian life. On Monday, he stood at the podium as the successful general contractor who personally oversaw the construction of the new floor.
Davies' full-circle journey caught the attention of leadership in attendance, serving as a live example of the center's long-term impact.
"There is nothing out there in terms of causes that is more unifying and important than support for veterans," said MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. “And that’s why we love this project so much.
“Most, if not every one of our clubs, honors a veteran or two at every single game that we play. That's an important part of how we think of ourselves. And that’s fitting, because veterans have sacrificed in many, many ways to protect the American way of life. And there’s nothing more American than baseball. As we gather in Philly for the All-Star Game, and more importantly to celebrate America 250, on behalf of all of us at Major League Baseball, I want to thank all the veterans for the sacrifice they’ve made to make our life better.”
Phillies managing partner and CEO John Middleton called the dedication a crucial investment in veterans' lives as the city celebrates the country’s landmark 250th anniversary.
“It’s a celebration of investing in lives -- lives of people who have put themselves and their partners on the front lines of the United States to preserve our way of life,” Middleton said. “It’s their dedication and sacrifice. So, thank you to all of the veterans who have done so much for us.”
Once everything concluded inside, the VMC hosted a Veteran All-Star Block Party that quickly took on the warm, familiar energy of a family cookout. Veterans were handed custom "Independence Veterans" shirts and swag bags before lining up for a spread of all the fixings -- from burgers to mac and cheese, salad and cornbread.
With the Phillie Phanatic and Phillies ballgirls working the crowd, the street filled with the sounds of classic summer anthems. Timeless soul and R&B tracks from Stevie Wonder and Luther Vandross blasted from the speakers, and when DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince’s “Summertime” and Carl Carlton’s “She’s a Bad Mama Jama” hit the air, the pavement turned into a dance floor. A crowd of veterans and community members danced through the “Cupid Shuffle,” laughing and smiling.
But as the music played, the true weight of what the new space represents was best put into perspective by Shankin.
"Naming this the Independence Floor is perfect, because that is exactly what we are here to help our veterans reclaim -- independence," Shankin said. "The independence to manage their own health, independence to find stable housing and the independence to thrive in all of their own communities with economic opportunity. To our partners at Phillies and MLB, you have made our work easier, you have made our veterans' lives better. On behalf of every veteran who will walk onto this floor and feel the weight lifted off their shoulders because of what you built, thank you. It is an honor to serve alongside you."