MLB and Phillies Charities announce 2026 All-Star Legacy projects for Philadelphia

Major League Baseball and the Phillies’ charitable foundation announced details of the 2026 All-Star Legacy initiative, an effort designed to make 2026 All-Star Week in Philadelphia about more than the game itself. MLB said the program will focus resources on underserved communities across the city through projects centered on access to baseball and softball for young people, support for veterans, and essential educational and nutritional resources.

The initiative is expected to run through the week leading up to the 96th MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard, with MLB Together positioned as the umbrella channel for the work. MLB Together is also the public-facing platform the league points to as the connector between league-sponsored giving and community partners in host cities, including Phillies Charities, Inc.

MLB and Phillies Charities, Inc. said their combined investment for 2026 will be more than $5 million. MLB’s announcement framed the effort as a continuation of the All-Star Legacy concept, which has been tied to the midsummer event since its inception in 1997, when MLB says the program began.

In describing the legacy’s scale over time, MLB reported that nearly $125 million has been contributed by MLB and host clubs to local communities through the All-Star Legacy initiative since 1997. That long view matters in Philadelphia, where the franchise’s local brand is closely connected to civic identity, and where All-Star Week represents one of the biggest single-week windows for community visibility.

MLB Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility April Brown described the initiative as a “vital intersection of innovation and community service,” saying the league and the Phillies are channeling the spirit of MLB Together into projects meant to empower local youth, honor veterans, and broaden community access. MLB said Brown’s remarks reflected the goal of ensuring that the celebration’s impact is not limited to the stadium footprint.

Phillies Charities, Inc. President Bonnie Clark said the organization’s work is rooted in the idea that fans and the city are central to the Phillies’ everyday mission. MLB’s release emphasized that, through the 2026 All-Star Legacy initiative, Phillies Charities expects the week to leave a meaningful mark in Philadelphia, with programs aligned to its community priorities.

Beyond the headline funding number, the league’s release also emphasized that the initiative’s projects will be unveiled throughout the week before the All-Star Game. That sequencing is worth watching, because legacy efforts often depend on the partnership network that forms around local nonprofits, schools, and community organizations, and the details determine which neighborhoods are most directly served.