This story was excerpted from Bryan Hoch’s Yankees Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
NEW YORK -- Aaron Judge folded bundles of baby clothes for families in need. Ben Rice helped a young woman prepare for a job interview. Anthony Volpe grabbed the mic and belted out his best Frank Sinatra impression.
These scenes could only happen during HOPE Week, the most meaningful five days on the Yankees’ calendar. For a 16th season, the Yankees reached out to individuals, families and organizations worthy of recognition and support, participating in events held both at Yankee Stadium and in the community.
“It’s just amazing work,” Judge said. “They don’t get a lot of publicity, so getting a chance to put the Yankee name on it and show them some love to get their names out there in what they’re doing, it’s special. It’s rewarding for them, but I think also as a player, it’s rewarding to get a chance to share some time and learn about these organizations.”
Here is a recap of this year’s edition of HOPE Week:
Monday: Love, Nana
The Yankees opened HOPE Week by welcoming the non-profit group “Love, Nana” and its founder, Joan Hyland, 87. Since 2020, Hyland’s organization has provided baby clothes for thousands of families on Long Island and in the surrounding areas who are navigating challenges in the initial years of parenthood.
At the event, several Yankees players helped assemble care packages for new parents, including Judge, Paul Goldschmidt, Jonathan Loáisiga and Fernando Cruz. They will be distributed to needy families with infants and toddlers up to 2 years of age.
“I’m a new father of a five-month-old, and when HOPE Week started, going through all the different options -- I circled this one, thinking that it really hit home for me,” Judge said. “Getting a chance to help some families in need, give them some clothes, books, bibs, anything they need to get started with their new bundle of joy.”
Tuesday: Bottomless Closet
Rice, left-hander Carlos Rodón and catcher Austin Wells were among the Yankees paying a visit to Manhattan and the non-profit organization Bottomless Closet.
For more than 25 years, the group has provided women living on the fringes of poverty with a blueprint for entering the workforce, including résumé coaching and career development workshops. The players toured the facility in midtown Manhattan, assisted staff in unpacking inventory and offered fashion advice for clients selecting workplace clothing.
“There’s a lot of really important women in my life, so being able to come here, it’s really fulfilling,” Rice said. “Helping these women get equipped and wardrobe with whatever job they’re trying to pursue … I just hope that it motivates them to have set big goals for themselves and continue to have big aspirations.”
Wednesday: The Valerie Fund
Karaoke was on the menu in Yankee Stadium’s shadows at The DugOut BX Sports Bar, honoring Ed and Sue Goldstein and their Valerie Fund, which provides comprehensive medical and emotional care to more than 6,000 children each year with cancer and blood disorders across eight pediatric hospitals in New York, New Jersey and metro-area Philadelphia.
From Aaron Boone crooning his version of Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the USA” to Oswaldo Cabrera channeling Taylor Swift with “Shake It Off,” the Bombers had a blast. Tim Hill, Clarke Schmidt, Volpe, Will Warren and general manager Brian Cashman were also among those participating.
“This is what HOPE Week is about,” Cashman said. “I knew nothing about the Valerie Fund and what Ed and Sue created … out of tragedy, the loss of a child, going through pediatric cancer. They’ve created this fund [in honor of] their daughter to help so many families navigate this. It’s just been impactful.”
Thursday: Strength of Brothers
Carmine and Vincent Gagliano got to live their big league dreams behind the scenes at Yankee Stadium, including having Gerrit Cole and Max Fried as their personal tour guides through the clubhouse, Monument Park and elsewhere. The brothers from Brooklyn are battling Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), which has no cure.
Vincent -- a self-described foodie -- prepared an omelette for Jazz Chisholm Jr. (ham, bacon, peppers and tomato), which he said would help the infielder hit “at least two home runs.” Carmine, 16, and Vincent, 12, announced the Yankees’ starting lineup over the public address system and joined the television and radio broadcasts for an inning each. They also toured the YES Network studios in Stamford, Conn.
“It’s the best part about our job, to connect with young fans throughout New York City and throughout the country,” Cole said. “It makes it so rewarding, working hard to go out there and play, seeing these young kids. It brings them joy and inspires them to continue to chase their dreams, just like we all did when we were kids.”
Friday: NY Metro Black Pilots of America
The Yankees made a perfect landing to conclude HOPE Week, visiting Vaughn College near LaGuardia Airport to honor Brian Worthington, the founder of NYMBPA, which introduces underserved and underprivileged communities to the aviation industry. Worthington and other members of the NYMBPA use their own small planes to instruct students of color, with most of the costs coming out of pocket.
Trent Grisham, Jasson Domínguez, Oswald Peraza, JT Brubaker and Yerry De los Santos were joined by “The Daily Show” alum and comedian Roy Wood Jr. for a tour of the hangar and a chance to utilize their Redbird flight simulators and air traffic controller simulator.
“It was very eye-opening to hear Brian’s story and what he’s gone through,” Grisham said. “I feel like any time you hear stories like that of perseverance and not everything going your way right away -- but a goal reached -- it’s a really special story.”
Across five days of HOPE Week, the Yankees didn’t just show up -- they listened, learned and elevated stories that might otherwise go unheard. For players and honorees alike, it was a reminder that baseball’s biggest impact often happens beyond the field.