When the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy opened in 2014, the franchise that bears its name hoped the brand new facility would help make a positive difference in the lives of underprivileged children in Southeast Washington.
Ten years later, the academy has made a difference for more than 6,000 local kids and has established itself as one of the premier youth facilities run by any professional sports organization. So much so that Major League Baseball is now bestowing a significant honor on it to commemorate its 10th anniversary.
MLB announced today the Nationals have won the 2024 Allan H. Selig Award for Philanthropic Excellence, one of the sport’s highest honors, for its decade of service through the youth academy.
The Selig Award, named for former commissioner Bud Selig, was created in 2010 to recognize the charitable and philanthropic efforts of major league clubs. The Nationals become the 12th franchise to win the honor.
“The Nationals Youth Baseball Academy is a terrific example of how our clubs are making a difference in the lives of young people with opportunities on and off the field,” commissioner Robert Manfred said. “I congratulate the Lerner family, the Washington Nationals organization, Nationals Philanthropies and the entire staff at the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy for this well-earned recognition. We are proud to celebrate their efforts, and we look forward to their continued impact throughout the Greater D.C. region.”
The youth academy, which is the signature program of Nationals Philanthropies, uses baseball and softball as vehicles to foster positive character development, academic achievement and improved health among youth living in underserved communities.
The facility, located in the Ward 7 neighborhood of Fort Dupont Park in the District, initially offered after-school and summer programs for 40 children in third and fourth grade. Over the course of the last decade, 6,000 kids ages 5-18 have been served via academic, health, character development, baseball and softball classes. The academy also serves as a critical food access point for the neighborhood, delivering 100,000 meals each year through the facility’s weekly produce market, healthy food store and multiple meal distribution programs.
“Throughout its first 10 years, the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy has grown into a community pillar, helping children, families and communities thrive through year-round programs,” said Marla Lerner Tanenbaum, founding chair and board member of Nationals Philanthropies. “We are proud of the decade of impact the academy has made thus far, and we remain committed to serving our neighbors across the District with continued resources and programming for years to come.”