In 2011, Cory’s life changed in an instant when a normally routine play on the baseball field left him paralyzed with a C-5 spinal cord injury. While the injury was devastating, Cory was fortunate: NCAA insurance provided access to critical treatment and therapy, resources that many others living with spinal cord injuries simply cannot afford.
Through Cory’s long recovery and rehabilitation, Trevor Williams saw first-hand the overwhelming needs that come with this kind of life-altering injury: specialized equipment, home modifications, therapies and daily support that foster dignity, independence and hope.
Moved by Cory’s strength and resilience, Trevor helped launch Project 34 in 2017, carrying forward Cory’s jersey number as a symbol of purpose. Together, they set out to ensure others facing similar challenges wouldn’t have to face them alone.
In 2024, Project 34 provided more than $220,000 in aid to 144 individuals and is on pace to exceed that this year. Since its founding, the organization has awarded nearly $600,000 to support close to 500 people living with spinal cord injuries. With steady growth in donations and reach, Project 34 continues to expand its ability to improve lives.
These grants do more than cover costs, they restore hope, funding everything from home modifications and assistive devices to therapy and essential medical equipment. By easing financial burdens, Project 34 helps individuals and families focus less on challenges and more on living fulfilling, empowered lives.
Each season he has been with the Nationals, Trevor has partnered with the team’s charitable arm, Washington Nationals Philanthropies, to host a Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Day at the ballpark. These special days raise both funds and awareness through initiatives like the team’s 50/50 raffle while also creating meaningful experiences, inviting individuals living with spinal cord injuries to enjoy a Nationals game from a catered suite, offering not just a day of fun but a sense of community, visibility and inclusion.
Attendees join Trevor on the field for a special pregame ceremony that advocates for caretakers and honors individuals in the Washington, D.C., community living with spinal cord injuries.
Another of Trevor’s guiding inspirations is his father, Richard Williams, a proud Marine who continues to serve the military community through both his profession and his volunteer efforts. Following his father’s example, Trevor has embraced opportunities to give back to those who serve our country. In his two and a half years with the Nationals, he has dedicated countless hours to thanking and supporting military service members and their families.
Trevor has visited active-duty military personnel at local bases, participated in the Nats on Base leadership forum, and continually seeks ways to show appreciation beyond words. Perhaps most meaningful are the genuine, heartfelt connections made with families from the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), an organization devoted to caring for the families of America’s fallen heroes.
Whether it’s quiet moments of conversation or shared experiences at the ballpark, Trevor's commitment to honoring these families is deeply personal, sincere and enduring.
He understands that the true measure of a person’s impact goes beyond their accomplishments on the field. Through his work with Project 34 and his dedication to military families, Trevor is deeply committed to using his platform to serve others, embodying the values of compassion, generosity and community that Roberto Clemente so powerfully exemplified.
“My ‘why’ is to play baseball for those who cannot.” -Trevor Williams