Together with the Mets, the Amazin’ Mets Foundation is committed to supporting programs within the community that have a direct impact on New Yorkers in need. From addressing food insecurity to honoring our military and first responders, the Foundation’s support provides crucial services in a wide variety of ways to individuals and organizations throughout our community.
Since June 2021…
More than $6.7 million in grants have been distributed to organizations uplifting our community and neighbors.
Mets Community Programs
In 2022, the Mets launched Senior Smiles, an event series focused on providing support, resources, and activities that bring joy to the older adults in our community. As part of the program, the Mets partner with various non-profit organizations and host interactive events at their centers. Since its launch, Mets Front Office staff have volunteered and hosted events such as bingo, fitness classes, meal delivery and service, holiday card making and an art course.
Since its inception, the Mets have partnered with Carter Burden Network, City Parks Foundation, Chinese American Planning Council, and Encore to host engaging events and activities for older adults in the Tri-State area.
To complement the program, the Amazin’ Mets Foundation has funded grants to local organizations that support and provide resources to low-income older adults.
Senior Smiles
To combat food insecurity across New York City, each year the Mets host two food drives – in the summer and off-season – with the help of the Mets Wives, hunger relief-based community partners and their loyal fans. The Mets have worked with New York Common Pantry and The River Fund NY as beneficiaries and recipients of the collected non-perishable items.
The Mets hosted their 18th annual MetsGiving Food Drive benefiting Food Bank For New York City on November 19, 2024. Individuals who donated at least 10 non-perishable items received one voucher redeemable for two tickets to select Monday – Thursday Mets home games in 2025. The Mets Team Store also offered a 20% discount to those who donated.
Mr. and Mrs. Met stopped by to help collect more than 13,000 pounds of food, which is equivalent to over 10,800 meals. Food Bank For New York City distributed the food collected throughout the holiday season.
The Amazin’ Mets Foundation funds and hosts various events throughout the holiday season to give back to those most in need during the winter months.
Turkey Giveaway
Each year, in advance of Thanksgiving, the Foundation sponsors a Turkey Giveaway and distributes turkeys to families in need across all five boroughs. Since its inception, the Foundation has purchased 19,000 turkeys through grants, which are then distributed by local food pantries and organizations throughout New York City with the help of Mets players and front office staff.
The Amazin’ Mets Foundation distributed 8,500 turkeys to New Yorkers in need ahead of Thanksgiving as part of their tenth annual MetsGiving Turkey Giveaway, presented by your local Toyota dealers. New York Mets legend John Franco joined Mr. and Mrs. Met to help distribute the turkeys at the various community partner locations on November 22. Individuals receiving the turkeys were also given a voucher for tickets to select Mets home games in 2025 and a MetsGiving tote bag.
The Foundation partnered with a network of 20 community partners across New York City for the giveaway.
Toyota generously provided transportation to enable Front Office staff volunteers to assist with in-person distributions across all five boroughs, featuring locations such as Queens Community Justice Center, New York Common Pantry in Manhattan, Part of the Solution in the Bronx, Project Hospitality in Staten Island, and Maimonides Park in Brooklyn.
Winter Coat Drive
The Mets and New York Cares partnered for the 18th Annual Winter Coat Drive, presented by your local Toyota dealers, at the Mets Team Store at Citi Field.
Fans generously donated a record 2,509 new or gently used winter coats. New York Cares volunteers, alongside Mr. and Mrs. Met, collected and organized the contributions to benefit New Yorkers in need. As a thank-you, donors received a voucher redeemable for two tickets to a future Mets home game and an exclusive discount at the Mets Team Store.
In addition to hosting the Winter Annual Coat Drive, since 2021, the Foundation has also supported New York Cares with a grant for their ‘ Coats Plus’ campaign, which provides a new winter coat and ten meals to someone in need for every $25 donation. Through this grant, the Foundation has provided 2,000 New Yorkers with a new coat and ten meals.
Military & First Responders
MetsVetDog – The Amazin’ Mets Foundation has awarded grants to various organizations to support military related causes and veteran service organizations, including America’s VetDogs – a service dog program that was created to provide enhanced mobility and renewed independence to veterans, active-duty service members and first responders with varying abilities, allowing them to once again live with pride and self-reliance. With Foundation funding, the Mets adopted the MetsVetDog, Buddy. Buddy will be in training throughout the 2024 and 2025 seasons and will eventually be placed with a veteran or first responder in need of a service dog.
You can follow our MetsVetDog on X, Instagram and Tik Tok: @MetsVetDog
September 11, 2001 – The Mets have been committed to remembering and honoring the lives of those impacted on September 11, 2001. Every September, the organization continues their longstanding tradition of firehouse visits in honor of the anniversary of September 11.
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of 9/11, the Amazin’ Mets Foundation honored first responders and 9/11 focused organizations with grants to the following: Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center, Tuesday’s Children, Answer the Call, the FDNY Foundation, and the New York City Police Foundation.
Grantee Spotlight
In 2025, the Amazin’ Mets Foundation supported Rescuing Leftover Cuisine with a $175,000 grant for their 2025 Food Rescue program, including pickup and redistribution of surplus food from Citi Field to community-based organizations. Since 2013, RLC has rescued over 20 million pounds of excess food and provided more than 16 million meals to people experiencing food insecurity.
In 2025, the Amazin’ Mets Foundation provided Encore Community Services with a $90,000 grant to purchase a new delivery van and supplies for 7,000 meals. Encore provides older adults with a range of caring and quality services to help them live independent and dignified lives.
In 2025, the Amazin’ Mets Foundation supported Forestdale Inc. with a $75,000 grant for their 2025 Strong Father’s Program. The mission of Forestdale’s Strong Fathers Initiative is to encourage and facilitate fathers’ emotional and material engagement with their children. The program has served an estimated 300 fathers and their children annually.
