Full Breakdown
MLB Volunteers Revitalize Shane Victorino Boys & Girls Club in Philadelphia
7/13/2026, 9:05:42 PM
Event Overview
More than a hundred volunteers gathered in Philadelphia’s Nicetown neighborhood on Saturday to clean and remodel the Shane Victorino Boys & Girls Club. Participants, including former MLB players CC Sabathia and Kenny Lofton, weeded, planted, swept sidewalks, painted walls, mopped floors, and cleaned interior spaces. The effort was organized as part of MLB Together’s Legacy project, a league-wide initiative to invest in Philadelphia during MLB All-Star Week.
Background & MLB Initiative
The Shane Victorino Boys & Girls Club faced possible closure nearly 15 years ago; Victorino, a former Philadelphia Phillies outfielder, helped preserve the facility at that time. MLB Together’s Legacy project pairs All-Star Week activities with community-service projects, aiming to create lasting benefits for host cities. This cleanup coincided with the All-Star Week and the Midsummer Classic, emphasizing the league’s off-field community focus.
Official Statements & Responses
MLB’s community-relations director April Brown highlighted the significance of the timing, noting that the All-Star festivities provide a prime opportunity for “the part off the field where we get to be in the community doing the work.” Michael Von Hagen, representing Independence Blue Cross, said his presence was meant to demonstrate corporate support for youth programs, stressing the importance of giving “our future generation a safe space to be.” Shane Victorino expressed that the renovation would help the club remain a safe haven for local children and hoped the experience would foster personal success.
Verbatim Quotes
- “To be able to do this means a lot,” — Shane Victorino, former MLB outfielder
- “I just hope it gives kids a safe place to come and somewhere to go and hopefully someday they take something out of there, whether it be an experience or something that they learn from here and become successful human beings in life, and that's what it's all about,” — Shane Victorino, former MLB outfielder
- “When we have our All-Star Week and Midsummer Classic, this is the best part; it's the part off the field where we get to be in the community doing the work,” — April Brown, MLB
- “It's an awesome opportunity to give back to our community, but it also is a great time to get out of our offce space and give our future generation a safe space to be,” — Michael Von Hagen, Independence Blue Cross representative
