The Arizona Diamondbacks and the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation will complete 2020 having donated $4.8 million to the community, surpassing the $70 million mark since the franchise’s inception and more than $63 million in the last 15 years. During this unprecedented year, the team donated $2.2 million to COVID-19 relief efforts including $1 million to the gameday staff who were unable to work this season.
“In so many ways, this year has been challenging and our ownership and leadership group have always believed that these are the times when our community needs us the most,” said D-backs President & CEO Derrick Hall. “We are proud to play a small part in helping the recovery process and while there is still a long road ahead for so many, we remain positive and optimistic about 2021.”
Despite the economic challenges that have impacted every organization across the country, the D-backs were able to dedicate the 43rd Diamonds Back Field in partnership with APS (David Peralta Field in Wickenburg), launch the new D-backs Junior RBI program with Nike, donate tens of thousands of jerseys and caps to Little Leagues around the state in partnership with Fry’s Food Stores, Tide and Steward Health and have players and staff make dozens of virtual and in person visits to hospitals, schools and Boys & Girls Clubs.
In October, the team hosted its annual Race Against Cancer, presented by Dignity Health by going virtual and in November, the Celebrity Golf Classic, presented by Fry’s Food Stores, took place to benefit programs that embrace and improve the lives of our military heroes.
This month, the team created virtual versions of their annual holiday events – the Winter Classic, supported by University of Phoenix and with support from JPMorgan Chase, the Homeward Bound Shopping Spree and yesterday’s Boys & Girls Club Holiday Party, giving more than 1,000 Arizona youths a reason to celebrate.
With schools in need of additional funding, the team hosted D-backs Give Back to Education Week and recently donated $100,000 to 20 schools across the state as part of the annual D-backs School Challenge, presented by University of Phoenix, which has donated more than $1.2 million since launching in 2012. The Most Valuable Teachers Program, supporting by Raytheon Missile Systems, continued once again, providing $55,000 to outstanding teachers in the state.
Most notably, the Foundation donated more than $1.2 million to a number of non-profit organizations that helped with COVID-19 relief efforts. Those organizations included St. Mary’s Food Bank, Society of St. Vincent De Paul, Southern Arizona Food Bank, Yuma Food Bank, United Food Bank, UMOM, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley, Flagstaff Shelter Services and Military Assistance Mission. The Foundation also donated $200,000 to local hospitals to help with their efforts in the fight against the pandemic.
The organization also created D-backs for Change, a business and community initiative that seeks to level the playing field for our Team Players and community members by making an unequivocal commitment to improving organizational diversity, equity, and inclusion, and seeking to improve the lives of those who have been and continue to be disadvantaged as a result of systemic social injustice, such as racism, sexism, homophobia and discrimination of all kinds.
