MLB, Phillies Charities, Inc. announce 2026 All-Star Legacy projects
Major League Baseball (MLB) and Phillies Charities, Inc., the charitable arm of the Philadelphia Phillies, today announced details of the 2026 All-Star Legacy initiative, which will ensure that 2026 MLB All-Star Week leaves a meaningful impact on communities within the host city of Philadelphia. Through MLB Together (MLBTogether.com), MLB and Phillies Charities, Inc. will make a combined investment of more than $5 million in projects that empower underserved communities by expanding access to baseball and softball for youth, supporting our veterans, and providing essential educational and nutritional resources.
The 2026 All-Star Legacy Projects will be commemorated throughout the week leading up to the 96th MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard. Nearly $125 million has been contributed by MLB and host Clubs to local communities through the All-Star Legacy initiative since its inception, dating back to the 1997 Midsummer Classic.
“The 2026 All-Star Legacy initiative represents a vital intersection of innovation and community service,” said April Brown, MLB Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility. “In partnership with Phillies Charities, Inc., we are channeling the spirit of MLB Together into meaningful projects that empower local youth, honor our veterans and broaden community access. It is an honor to work alongside a franchise so deeply woven into the fabric of Philadelphia, ensuring the impact of this Midsummer Classic resonates long after the final pitch.”
“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, ensuring this historic celebration leaves a meaningful, generation-spanning impact.”
2026 All-Star Legacy Projects
Veterans Multi-Service Center (VMC) Facility Upgrades: Since 1980, the VMC, headquartered in Old City, has provided comprehensive services to veterans, including housing, employment assistance and mental health resources, to 9,500 visitors annually.
Through this Legacy Project donation, the center’s non-working elevator will be fully replaced, ensuring all veterans – especially those who are older or have mobility issues – can access the center’s life-changing services within the facility.
Additionally, the previously underutilized fifth floor of the VMC will undergo a full renovation, transforming it into the “Independence Floor,” a 5,200-square-foot, state-of-the-art space designed to support veterans on their path forward. Once completed, this dedicated hub will provide expanded access to mental health services, job fairs and trades certification programs, equipping veterans with the professional and personal tools needed to achieve lasting independence.
The renovation will also introduce Heroic Gardens, a therapeutic indoor plant environment offering workshops and other wellness programming rooted in plant-based healing. To further enhance the space, veterans from Operation Mud – a free, veteran-led art therapy program – will contribute custom artwork, ensuring the environment is both healing and personal to those it serves.
Ashburn Field Refurbishment at FDR Park: Located in South Philadelphia, Ashburn Field was built in 1998 using funds generated from the 1996 All-Star Game at Veterans Stadium. Today, this field hosts more than 125 events annually, including baseball games, practices and programming for local colleges and high schools. In addition, Ashburn Field is one of two baseball fields that serve as a primary home to the Phillies Urban Youth Academy and Nike RBI All-Star teams for city youth.
With more than 30% of scheduled events lost each year due to weather, this Legacy Project investment will support the conversion of the existing 135,000-square-foot grass and dirt field into a high-performance synthetic turf system. This project will also include an updated drainage system to reduce flooding and improve playability, allowing for more consistent scheduling and expanded programming.
The refurbished Ashburn Field at FDR Park will make its debut during All-Star Week as one of the official sites for the All-Star Commissioner’s Cup. The improvements will ensure that local youth have access to a high-quality, All-Star-caliber facility for years to come.
Tree House Books Literacy Expansion: Tree House Books is a giving library and literacy center headquartered in North Philadelphia. Founded in 2005, this non-profit community center and by-donation bookstore provides free books to children and families, along with safe, out-of-school-time programs that build literacy skills and inspire a lifelong love of reading and writing from early childhood through high school and beyond.
Starting with a revitalized exterior façade, this Legacy Project will support critical renovations and expansions throughout the center, creating welcoming, comfortable spaces where children and teens can learn, grow and reach their full potential. The redesigned interior will feature cozy reading nooks and expanded tutoring areas, all thoughtfully infused with a baseball-inspired theme to make literacy more engaging and fun.
Highlights include a new children’s library – more than double its current size – that, when completed, will host activities such as drama, art, dance, play and reading. The project will also introduce a new, vibrant teen center designed to serve 50+ teens, offering a dynamic space for social connections alongside learning opportunities focused on post-high-school pathways, including college, trades, leadership development, and job readiness.
In addition, a new, dedicated tutoring space will allow Tree House Books to double the number of students served and expand access to impactful one-on-one support during its after-school programming.
Honoring the Philadelphia Stars – Negro League Memorial Park Sculpture Tribute: Located at the historic site of the Philadelphia Stars’ former home field (44th St. and Parkside Ave.), this transformative project will elevate the existing Negro League Memorial Park into a dynamic tribute to one of the city’s most iconic teams, which played from 1933 to 1952, and the enduring legacy of Black baseball.
In partnership with the Business Association of West Parkside – the creators and caretakers of the current site – this Legacy Project will help reimagine the park into a vibrant, immersive space that celebrates history while inspiring future generations.
At the heart of the redesign will be four larger-than-life statues representing Philadelphia Stars and Negro League players, capturing the spirit, pride and athleticism of the era. Each seven-foot sculpture is being created by contemporary Philadelphian artist Miguel Horn, whose studio is just steps from the park. Horn is also leading the creation of a dramatic 150-foot-long, 10-foot-high 3D silhouette screen wall, designed to replicate the energy of a cheering crowd and frame the player statues in a lifelike motion.
The installation will be deeply rooted in the community: local school children and youth baseball players will join other community members to serve as models for the silhouette wall, ensuring today’s generation is forever woven into this historic tribute.
Miracle Leagues in Southeastern Pennsylvania Grant Recipients: The Miracle League is a non-profit organization dedicated to building and supporting specially designed fields that enable children and adults with physical and cognitive disabilities to play baseball and softball in a safe, inclusive environment. These fields feature customized, rubberized playing surfaces, fully accessible dugouts and adaptable field layouts, along with a buddy system that pairs each player with a volunteer helper – all with a focus on inclusion, confidence and community.
To celebrate the inclusive spirit of the All-Star Game, legacy dollars will support capital improvement grants for field upgrades and enhancements to programs and services at Miracle Leagues of Southeastern Pennsylvania. These investments will help ensure that the joy of the game remains accessible to every athlete in the region, regardless of physical or cognitive challenges.
The benefiting chapters were recognized during a pregame ceremony on June 7 at Citizens Bank Park that included representatives from Phillies Charities, Inc. and Josh Shapiro, the 48th Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and Pennsylvania First Lady Lori Shapiro.
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) Garden Mobile: PHS is a nonprofit dedicated to advancing health and well-being across the Greater Philadelphia region through neighborhood greening, community gardening, and environmental stewardship.
Through this Legacy Project donation, an innovative PHS Garden Mobile will make its debut, bringing fresh produce directly to communities most in need, while delivering residents on-the-go horticultural programming, including gardening resources, educational and interactive opportunities, and ways to get involved.
The PHS Garden Mobile will also help to combat food insecurity by supporting PHS’s community gardening work throughout the region. PHS will deliver more than 20,000 pounds of fresh produce and nearly 300,000 seed starters to those most in need.
Launching during All-Star Week festivities and continuing year-round, the PHS Garden Mobile will inspire community engagement through hands-on programming that promotes greener, healthier neighborhoods.
In addition to the Legacy initiative, funds raised from Gatorade All-Star Workout Day on Monday, July 13, will also support MLB’s national partners, including The Jackie Robinson Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Stand Up To Cancer. In celebration of the nation’s semiquincentennial, MLB Together has partnered with America250 on a premier league-wide initiative to mobilize the entire baseball community and achieve a collective milestone of 250,000 volunteer hours. This campaign includes an All-Star Week project where volunteers will refurbish the Shane Victorino Boys & Girls Club facilities to provide local youth with enhanced spaces to play and grow.
Additional community-focused efforts during the 2026 All-Star Week will be inclusive of supporting military families, providing memorable experiences for children battling critical illnesses through the Make-A-Wish Foundation and positive environmental sustainability practices. For more information on MLB Together and the MLB Legacy initiative, please visit MLBTogether.com.