Yankees' HOPE Week initiative receives prestigious MLB honor
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TAMPA, Fla. – Since 2009, the Yankees have set aside one week each season to shine a spotlight on people whose perseverance and generosity might otherwise go unnoticed. What began as a long-shot idea scrawled on an office whiteboard has grown into one of the franchise’s most meaningful traditions: HOPE Week.
Major League Baseball is set to recognize those efforts on Wednesday, presenting the organization with the Allan H. Selig Award for Philanthropic Excellence in a ceremony prior to the Yankees’ Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
The honor is MLB’s most prestigious team award for community outreach.
“The HOPE Week initiative that the Yankees have built is an exemplary demonstration of the positive influence MLB clubs can have through consistent and dedicated commitment to their communities,” said Commissioner Robert D. Manfred.
“We are proud of the Yankees for their meaningful work as we celebrate their impact and the opportunities they have created to connect with people, families and causes in the New York area and beyond.”
During Wednesday’s ceremony, the Yankees also recognized their 2026 Spring HOPE Week honoree, Gentlemen’s Quest of Tampa, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping teens and young men realize their full academic potential.
This year’s HOPE Week celebration in New York will take place from June 15-19.
HOPE Week (Helping Others Persevere and Excel) began as the brainchild of Jason Zillo, the team’s vice president of communications and media relations. It was embraced by general manager Brian Cashman and the Steinbrenner family, who lent enthusiastic support.
“Over the course of HOPE Week, we have met so many selfless individuals, and it has been our privilege to share their stories with the world,” said Yankees general partner and vice chairperson Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindal. “The Yankees deeply appreciate receiving this prestigious honor from Major League Baseball, and we look forward to continuing our HOPE Week initiative for years to come.”
Established during the season that opened the new Yankee Stadium and ended with the club’s most recent World Series championship, HOPE Week takes place each summer on five consecutive days during a homestand.
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Yankees players, coaches and staff help to recognize inspiring individuals, families or organizations in the community, with outreach typically taking place at locations in the city.
Each event culminates with honorees joining the team for batting practice and pregame ceremonies at Yankee Stadium.
To date, the Yankees have donated more than $1 million to HOPE Week honorees and their related charities. The initiative also aims to amplify worthy causes, generating awareness and funding for nonprofit organizations.
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This also marks the 13th year that the Yankees’ Minor League teams will each hold their own HOPE Weeks, extending the initiative the communities of affiliates in the United States and the Dominican Republic.
In total, nearly 500 total HOPE Week events have been held across the New York metropolitan area and in the cities of Yankees affiliates. The Yankees have had 78 unique honorees and 80 event days, including five-year and 10-year reunions.