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.
As of June 2021…
More than $2,600,000 in grants have been distributed to organizations uplifting our community and neighbors.
Mets Community Programs
Senior Smiles
In 2022, the Mets launched Senior Smiles, an event series focused on providing support, resources, and activities that bring joy to the seniors in our community. As part of the program, the Mets partner with various non-profit organizations and host interactive events at their centers. In the first year of the program, Mets Front Office staff volunteered and hosted events such as bingo, meal delivery and service, holiday card making and a painting class.
To complement the program, the Amazin’ Mets Foundation has funded grants to local organizations that support and provide resources to low income seniors.
Hunger Relief
Food Drives
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.
Hits For Hunger
In 2021, the Mets were unable to host their annual summer food drive in person as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. With an understanding that New Yorkers were more in need than ever, the Amazin’ Mets Foundation teamed up with Citi to host “Hits for Hunger,” a virtual food drive benefitting City Harvest. Hits for Hunger raised over $37,000 which was enough to feed more than 100,000 New Yorkers for a day.
MetsGiving
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 10,500 turkeys through a grant to St. Francis Food Pantries and Shelters. The turkeys are distributed by local food pantries and organizations throughout New York City with the help of Mets players and front office staff.
Holiday Shopping Spree
Every holiday season, the Mets team up with Target and a local nonprofit to present the MetsGiving Holiday Shopping Spree. With the support of Delta Air Lines volunteers, Mets players and Mets front office staff, 20 children have a chance to shop for the holidays at Target. All children also receive Target gift cards for their families.
Winter Coat Drive
Since the winter of 2016, the Mets have teamed up with New York Cares to host their annual Coat Drive at Citi Field, where new or gently used coats are collected for distribution by a local non-profit. In addition to hosting the 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 disabilities, allowing them to once again live with pride and self-reliance. With Foundation funding, the Mets adopted the MetsVetDog, Shea. Shea has been in training throughout the 2022 season and will eventually be placed with a veteran in need of a service dog.
You can follow our MetsVetDog on Twitter, 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. 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.
Affiliates Team Support
The Amazin’ Mets Foundation is committed to supporting the communities of the Mets affiliates’ teams.
“The Brooklyn Cyclones strive to engage and support our local communities and embody the hard work, loyalty and passion that is synonymous with the people we serve. The Amazin’ Mets Foundation has been instrumental in helping us to amplify our efforts, our outreach, and financial contributions to partners that are near and dear to our organization. We are forever grateful to the Amazin’ Mets Foundation for sharing our passion and for their partnership and dedication to helping our local communities flourish.”
Christina Moore, Director Community Relations and Entertainment, Brooklyn Cyclones
“The Syracuse Mets, with the support of the Amazin’ Mets Foundation, work closely with local organizations throughout Central New York to give back to the community through outreach, fundraising, donations and beyond.”
Katie Stewart, Assistant General Manager, Syracuse Mets
The Amazin’ Mets Foundation has been vital in our community partnerships here in Port St. Lucie. Over the past year, the Amazin’ Mets Foundation has helped us provide funding for many important projects including Family Food Box donations with the Treasure Coast Food Bank, Holiday Shopping for 24 children from the United Way, and helped to provide funds for a new fully accessible playground for our community – complete with handicap accessible swings, slides, ziplines, and more. The Amazin’ Mets Foundation has fully supported our efforts, and it’s clear to us that they value the importance of supporting all of our Mets Family communities.”
Kasey Blair, Assistant General Manager, St. Lucie Mets
Grantee Spotlight
Wyckoff Heights Medical Center
In 2022, the Amazin’ Mets Foundation funded its largest grant to date, in the amount of $166,000, to support the purchase of a new ambulance for a local hospital that serves the Queens and Brooklyn community.
New York Common Pantry
In 2021, the Amazin’ Mets Foundation provided New York Common Pantry with a grant to purchase a new truck for their mobile food program. New York Common Pantry received another grant in 2022 to purchase food for their Choice Food Program. The Foundation’s total support of New York Common Pantry to date is more than $75,000.
The River Fund New York
The River Fund New York has been a grantee partner of the Amazin’ Mets Foundation since 2021. The Foundation has supported various food pantry, holiday initiatives, and Mother’s Day programs with a total donation of over $95,000.
