JUNE 18, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HOPE WEEK 2025 COMMUNITY INITIATIVE DAY FOUR:
THURSDAY, JUNE 19 – CARMINE AND VINCENT GAGLIANO
TWO YOUNG BROTHERS FROM BROOKLYN WITH MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY WILL SERVE AS YANKEE STADIUM PA AND YES NETWORK ANNOUNCERS DURING THURSDAY’S GAME
ABOUT EVENTS ON THURSDAY, JUNE 19, AND HONOREES – CARMINE AND VINCENT GAGLIANO
MEDIA INFORMATION FOR COVERING HOPE WEEK DAY FOUR: THURSDAY, JUNE 19 AT YANKEE STADIUM
WHAT**:** On Day Four of HOPE Week, the Yankees will honor Carmine (16) and Vincent (12) Gagliano, two young Yankees fans from Brooklyn battling Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The sports-centric brothers’ diagnoses prevent them from playing the games that they love, but they’ve stayed involved through announcing. On Thursday, June 19, Carmine and Vincent will visit Yankee Stadium for a unique behind-the-scenes tour with Max Fried and Gerrit Cole. The brothers will also enjoy a special broadcasting experience, where they will serve as guest PA announcers in the first inning. They will also join the YES Network (third inning) and WFAN (fourth inning) broadcasts during the Yankees’ 1:05 p.m. game vs. the Angels.
Previously on June 10, Carmine and Vincent, along with their older brother, Jayson (18), and parents, Jay and Cara, visited the YES Network studios in Stamford. There, the boys met Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole, YES Network host Bob Lorenz and analysts Jack Curry and Dellin Betances, who showed the brothers what it’s like to take part in a pregame show production meeting. The group then went to the studio, where the boys practiced their craft at the main desk reading over highlights. At the end, Carmine and Vincent practiced reading off a teleprompter, where they were surprised to announce themselves as 2025 HOPE Week honorees.
TIMING/LOCATION/PARKING FOR EVENT**:** Media should arrive by 9:30 a.m. at the Yankee Stadium Press Gate (on E. 161st St. between Gate 4 and the Advance Ticket Windows). The event starts promptly at 9:45 a.m. Media should RSVP by e-mailing Jon Simon (jsimon@yankees.com) and also apply for credentials at credentials.mlb.com.
ABOUT HOPE WEEK HONOREES – CARMINE AND VINCENT GAGLIANO
In 2016, parents Jay and Cara Gagliano, noticed that their seven-year-old son Carmine, who loved sports, was having trouble keeping up with his peers. Friends and family also inquired about the size of Carmine’s calves, which were noticeably larger than other children his age. Like any good parents, they took Carmine to the doctor for tests, and the family was informed that Carmine’s exceptionally high CPK levels (creatine phosphokinase – an enzyme found primarily in muscle cells) was indicative of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). They were given a second dose of terrible news when doctors told them that one of their other sons, Vincent, who was age 3 at the time, was also likely to have DMD as well.
“Hearing that news was very scary,” Cara Gagliano said. “You obviously worry when one of your children receives that kind of diagnosis, but when we were told it could affect Vincent as well, I began to think how it could really impact the family’s dynamics. I just wanted to protect our whole family.”
YANKEES TO CELEBRATE HOPE WEEK – DAY FOUR – THURSDAY, JUNE 19, continued
DMD is a devastating disease, predominantly affecting boys, that progresses through the muscles and causes them to weaken over time, eventually impacting the whole body. Living with Duchenne makes the simplest tasks difficult, and in later stages, causes heart and breathing muscles to fail. Boys diagnosed with DMD are typically using a wheelchair by age 12, and most don’t live past their late twenties.
Within a few years of their diagnoses, the boys couldn’t play the games they loved. But their passion to stay involved and active among their peers remained as powerful as ever. They were determined to find a way to still be connected to sports.
In 2023, as a freshman at Xaverian High School in Brooklyn, Carmine expressed his desire to be a part of the school’s freshman baseball team. After talking it over with his parents and the coach, the school made Carmine the team’s announcer. Equipped with a portable speaker and a microphone, Carmine attended all the games, announcing players coming up to bat and substitutions. Carmine took the mic and ran with it, incorporating walk-up songs for his teammates and playing sound effects when specific plays occurred. When the fall came around, Carmine was called upon to announce Xaverian’s basketball games as well.
“He’s so grateful to still be involved in sports and be around his friends,” said Cara. “Announcing the games came so naturally to him. When he was little, Carmine would set up a mini baseball diamond in the living room and play pretend games. But while he played, I would also hear him doing the play-by-play! It’s like this was almost meant to be.”
Vincent, currently in sixth grade at St. Bernadette Catholic Academy, could very well follow in Carmine’s footsteps. Nicknamed “Two Cents,” because he’s got an opinion on everything, Vincent is a major foodie and has made several Instagram videos preparing and sampling food with local chefs.
“He’s our little guy, but he’s got a lot of personality,” Cara said when talking about her youngest son. “He’s still ambulatory, which makes things easier. However, it’s also very difficult, because Vincent sees what his future could be like when he sees Carmine. But Vincent stays positive. We all do. As a family, we don’t discuss the potential negatives that lie ahead. We’re focused on fighting to find a cure.”
In 2024, Jay and Cara founded The Strength of Brothers Ltd., a nonprofit with the goal of raising awareness and, ultimately, finding a cure for DMD. Jayson, the eldest of the three Gagliano boys (age 17), has also played a major role in supporting his brothers, spearheading fundraising events and providing everyday assistance for the family, which included watching over Carmine at school.
“We have met so many amazing doctors along this journey, all on a serious mission to save all of the lives of DMD boys,” Jay Gagliano said. “We have befriended so many wonderful parents who also have beautiful boys with Duchenne and many organizations that are focused on finding a cure and anything to help slow down the progression of this disease. We have been deeply touched by our friends and families, who offer constant emotional support.”
MORE ABOUT HOPE WEEK
(Please also visit hopeweek.com)
Introduced in 2009 and embarking on its 16th edition in 2025 (including a pause in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic), the Yankees’ HOPE Week initiative (Helping Others Persevere & Excel) is an ambitious, week-long, multi-faceted community outreach program undertaken by all players and employees within the organization. The initiative is rooted in the belief that acts of goodwill provide hope and encouragement to more than just the recipient of the gesture.
At its core, HOPE Week is about people helping people. The one thing everybody has — no matter their background or financial situation — is time. By involving every one of our players and coaches, Manager Aaron Boone, General Manager Brian Cashman, our minor league affiliates and front office staff during the celebration of HOPE Week, the Yankees send the message that everyone can give of themselves to make their community a better place.
Equally significant during HOPE Week is garnering publicity for highlighted causes and organizations. The greatest challenge facing many not-for-profits is generating interest, awareness and funding for their missions.
The Yankees encourage all their fans to get involved … Give HOPE!
—nyy—