ARLINGTON -- The Home Base Program was established as a partnership between the Boston Red Sox and Massachusetts General Hospital 12 years ago to provide world-class care for veterans, active military care and their families.

The program provides clinical care, wellness, education and research initiatives for those impacted by invisible wounds such as post-traumatic stress and brain injuries.

The success and impact of the program led the Red Sox to be named the recipient of the 2019 Allan H. Selig Award for Philanthropic Excellence, Major League Baseball announced on Thursday. It is the second time the Red Sox have won the award.

Red Sox chairman Tom Werner and the Red Sox Foundation were the driving force in the creation of Home Base in 2007, which has served as a lifeline for those seeking a successful transition to post-military service. As part of their recognition, the Red Sox will receive a $10,000 grant from Major League Baseball Charities.

“I have had the opportunity to visit the facility in Boston that the Red Sox funded, built and support, and it is a phenomenal program,” commissioner Rob Manfred said. “We had clubs that did great work in their communities. It’s hard to pick a winner, but I can’t say enough about what Tom Werner in particular and the Red Sox have done.

“The organization’s devotion to improving the quality of life of veterans, active service members and their families serves as a model for how our sport gives back to those who have personally sacrificed in service to our nation. We are proud to recognize Home Base as a leading safe haven and treatment option for the military community.”

The Red Sox were also honored in 2010 for their Red Sox Scholars program. That was the first year the award was given, and the Red Sox are the only club to win the it twice.

“We are honored to be the recipients of this prestigious award for the second time, and for a program that has been incredibly special to me, personally,” Werner said. 

As a National Center of Excellence, Home Base operates the first and largest private-sector clinic in the nation devoted to providing evidence-based mental health and brain injury care, advancements and awareness in support of veterans, active duty service members and military family members, all at no cost and regardless of discharge status.

“As Home Base celebrates its 10th anniversary, we have seen the impact of its important work through the thousands of veterans, service members and families who have been set on a path of healing from the invisible wounds,” Werner said. “They have done so with the utmost care, integrity and decency for everyone who has walked through their doors. I truly believe this program has saved countless lives, and I am grateful to MLB for this notable recognition.”

Home Base’s two-week Intensive Clinical Program is one of several clinical programs it offers, which compresses more than a year’s worth of treatment within two weeks through evidence-based therapies, complementary and alternative medicine.

Serving veterans from across the globe, some components of the program include supervised exercise, education about healthy eating and living, sleep hygiene, stress management and mindfulness training.

Additional organizations collaborate with the Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital to sustain the clinical programs available at Home Base to include Wounded Warrior Project, George W. Bush Institute’s Warrior Wellness Alliance, Fisher House, RAND Corporation and Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors.

Since its inception in 2009, more than 24,000 veterans, service members and their families have been treated under Home Base. Additionally, the program has trained more than 73,000 clinicians, educators and community members nationally since its inception.  

While Home Base is a nationally recognized charitable organization, it continuously works to grow and expand its boundaries, both geographically and intellectually, to reach new heights in offering innovation to help veterans and their families facilitate successful transitions to civilian life.

Most recently, Home Bases's increased dedication and support of the military community has directed its efforts overseas, providing aid to those from Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada, Panama, Algeria, the United Kingdom, Guyana and Japan.

To commemorate the MLB & Mitel present London Series 2019, the Red Sox Foundation partnered with Home Base and Walking with the Wounded to raise awareness of U.S.- & U.K.-based veterans.

Their joint initiative included a special dinner for 300 at Kensington Palace featuring a special performance by Sting and tickets to Game 1 of the London Series. Together, they raised more than $1.3 million at the event. Home Base is building an international coalition of best-in-class organizations to continue its mission in healing the invisible wounds of servicemen and women on a global stage.