JULY 3, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
— MEDIA ADVISORY—
YANKEES ANNOUNCE RETURN OF SUMMER NIGHT LIGHTS PROGRAM FOR BRONX YOUTH
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***MEDIA INVITED TO ATTEND OPENING DAY ON TUESDAY, JULY 8, AT ELSTON GENE HOWARD FIELD***
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ORGANIZATION TO AGAIN TEAM WITH THE NYPD BLUE CHIPS PROGRAM, NYC PARKS, NYC DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (DYCD), THE PLAYERS ALLIANCE, SCAN-HARBOR AND LG TO IMPLEMENT BASEBALL PROGRAM DESIGNED TO KEEP BRONX YOUNG PEOPLE ENGAGED IN POSITIVE OUTLETS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS
The New York Yankees today announced that the Summer Night Lights Program, following a second successful season in 2024, will again take place this summer in conjunction with Major League Baseball’s PLAY BALL initiative.
Media are invited to attend Opening Day on Tuesday, July 8 at 3:30 p.m. at Elston Gene Howard Field (across the street from Yankee Stadium). Speakers representing the affiliated organizations will kick off the program, and media will be able to capture baseball b-roll and interviews (Details on next page).
The Yankees will be teaming up with the New York City Police Department’s (NYPD) Blue Chips Program, NYC Parks, the New York City Department of Youth & Community Development (DYCD), The Players Alliance, SCAN-Harbor and LG to implement this initiative designed to keep area young people engaged in recreation and character-promoting activities on summer evenings.
On Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from July 8 through the end of August, approximately 500 children and teenagers from the Bronx between the ages of 12 and 18 will have the opportunity to take part in tournament-style, co-ed baseball and softball games at Elston Gene Howard Field, which is located on the site of the original Yankee Stadium. The nighttime schedule was chosen to supplement the limited number of organized evening activities available to that age group during the summer.
Summer Night Lights is a collective effort to encourage engagement in baseball-related activities, which can serve as an outlet for recreation, social responsibility and healthy competition. Additionally, by gathering youngsters from all areas of the Bronx, artificial and territorial boundaries can be shattered in a way that can bring communities together.
The day-to-day aspects of the program are organized by the NYPD Blue Chips Program and DYCD.
MEDIA INVITATION — OPENING DAY FOR SUMMER NIGHT LIGHTS ON TUES., JULY 8, continued
WHAT:
OPENING DAY OF SUMMER NIGHT LIGHTS. B-ROLL AND INTERVIEWS AVAILABLE.
WHO:
- DARNELL GATLING — NYPD DETECTIVE AND CO-FOUNDER OF NYPD BLUE CHIPS
- KEITH HOWARD — COMMISSIONER, DYCD
- JEREMY SYROP — SENIOR DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, DYCD
- BRIAN SMITH — SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, CORPORATE/COMMUNITY RELATIONS, NEW YORK YANKEES
DATE:
TUESDAY, JULY 8, 2025
TIME:
MEDIA SHOULD ARRIVE FOR CHECK-IN AT 3:15 P.M.; PROGRAM TO START AT 3:30 P.M.
MEDIA ARRIVAL:
EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE AT ELSTON GENE HOWARD FIELD ON THE BASEBALL DIAMOND NEAR THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF E. 161ST STREET AND RIVER AVENUE.
CREDENTIALS:
THOSE WISHING TO ATTEND SHOULD E-MAIL MICHAEL MARGOLIS (mmargolis@yankees.com) AND JON SIMON (jsimon@yankees.com).
—nyy—