The Phillies are joining the virtual lineup for this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend Celebration hosted by the African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP) and Citizens.

On Monday, January 18, the organizations will team up to host a free, virtual conversation on ‘Athletes and Activism: Baseball, Race and Social Justice’ featuring Phillies outfielder Andrew McCutchen, 2008 World Champion Jimmy Rollins, and 1993 National League Champion and 2008 World Championship team hitting coach Milt Thompson. Moderating the event will be MLB Network’s Harold Reynolds, who was a two-time American League All-Star and 12-year MLB veteran.

Also featured is a special welcome by Daniel K. Fitzpatrick, President of Citizens, Mid-Atlantic Region, and Ivan Henderson, Vice President of Programming, African American Museum in Philadelphia.

“The African American Museum in Philadelphia is honored to invite audiences to learn from some of Major League Baseball’s most unique and accomplished voices on such important and timely topics as activism and social justice,” said Henderson. “Museums – and cultural institutions in general – play a vital role in connecting historic and contemporary narratives, and advancing the kind of discourse that aids in healing and reconnecting our communities. We hope that our partnership with Citizens and the Philadelphia Phillies on this exciting program informs and inspires audiences, encourages their support and advocacy for institutions like AAMP, and sets the tone for our 2021 Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend Celebration.”

“We are proud to support two of our longstanding community partners as they take on such a critical conversation,” said Fitzpatrick. “The past year has brought so many issues involving systemic racism to the forefront. At Citizens, we are committed to helping to drive social equity and economic advancement in underserved communities across our footprint. We hope this discussion will serve as a way for us all to come together and learn from one another – a fitting tribute to Dr. King.”

The hour-long candid conversation will be pre-recorded with a live virtual audience at the start of the Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend Celebration, and then streamed to the public on January 18, at 5:00 p.m**.** ET, on Phillies YouTube, as well as on AAMP and Citizens websites.

This is the 15th year that the AAMP and Citizens have teamed up to celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Thanks to a $30,000 donation from the Citizens Charitable Foundation, all events for the 2020 Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend Celebration at AAMP are free to the public. For more information, visit https://www.aampmuseum.org/mlk.html.

About the African American Museum in Philadelphia

Founded in 1976 in celebration of the nation's bicentennial, the African American Museum in Philadelphia is the first institution funded and built by a major municipality to preserve, interpret and exhibit the heritage of African Americans. The mission of the museum is to bring together diverse communities in greater appreciation of the Black experience through the combined narrative of art, history and culture. Throughout its evolution, the museum has objectively interpreted and presented the achievements and aspirations of African Americans from pre-colonial times to the current day.

About Citizens Charitable Foundation

The Citizens Charitable Foundation is a philanthropic organization funded by Citizens Financial Group, Inc. The Foundation’s mission is centered in the belief that citizenship is at the heart of Citizens’ identity, and when people and communities reach their potential, we all thrive. The Citizens Charitable Foundation currently focuses its giving in three key areas: helping people to manage their money, engaging with partners in the fight against hunger, and strengthening our communities. By investing in these important issues, the Citizens Charitable Foundation strives to improve the lives of our fellow citizens through building partnerships with public, private, and community interests to develop neighborhoods, transform lives, and stimulate economic renewal.