MLB names Nationals recipient of Selig Award for Philanthropic Excellence

The Washington Nationals have been named the recipient of the 2024 Allan H. Selig Award for Philanthropic Excellence in recognition of a decade of community impact through the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy, Major League Baseball announced on Tuesday. The Academy, the signature program of Washington Nationals Philanthropies, the Club’s charitable arm, uses baseball and softball as vehicles to foster positive character development, academic achievement and improved health among youth living in underserved communities.

Established in 2014, the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy embodies the broader mission of Nationals Philanthropies in fueling access and opportunities for all of D.C.’s children, families and communities to thrive. In the decade since, the Academy has served more than 6,000 children ages 5 to 18 through a continuum of holistic youth development programs. Six classes have matriculated from third through eighth grade in the core after-school and summer program, going on to excel on and off the field at some of the region’s most competitive high schools and, more recently, enrolling in colleges across the country.

“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 Washington Nationals Philanthropies and president of The Annette M. and Theodore N. Lerner Family Foundation. “We are extremely honored that the Nationals Academy, the signature program of Nationals Philanthropies, has been selected by Major League Baseball and its fans as this year’s recipient of the prestigious Allan H. Selig Award for Philanthropic Excellence. 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.”

“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,” said Commissioner of Baseball Robert D. Manfred, Jr. “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 Academy provides a range of free youth development and baseball/softball programs, from fun, free clinics for beginners to structured programming that includes training, tournament play, participation in MLB events and more. Academy offerings have evolved over the last decade in response to community need and the growth of youth participants. 

In addition to youth sports programming, the Academy serves as a critical food access point for the neighborhood. Its year-round, holistic program infuses food access, enrichment and education directly into the community with the greatest need, using the Academy facility as a civic resource. Nationals Philanthropies delivers 100,000 meals each year through the Academy’s weekly produce market, healthy food store and multiple meal distribution programs.

The Allan H. Selig Award for Philanthropic Excellence, named after MLB Commissioner Emeritus Allan “Bud” Selig, was created in 2010 to annually recognize the charitable and philanthropic efforts of MLB Clubs. The Nationals were selected by a distinguished panel that assessed the Club’s ability to address or respond to an important community need or problem; produce desired community impact and outcomes; and analyzed the efforts that have significantly impacted the community. In addition, the Nationals were the winner of the fan vote, which was a key component in determining the overall winner among the five Club finalists.

Photos and video of the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy can be found HERE.

About Washington Nationals Philanthropies

Washington Nationals Philanthropies is the official charitable arm of the Washington Nationals. Its mission is to help children, families, and communities thrive through sports-based youth development and access to healthy food. The organization delivers on this commitment by spurring investment in community-based programs that address the disparity of opportunity for residents of the region. Since 2007, the foundation has issued over $7 million in grants to local organizations. Through its signature program, the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy, the organization operates year-round youth development and baseball instruction activities, as well as a holistic food access program – supporting the delivery of nearly 1 million meals into the Washington, DC region since 2018. Since 2013, the organization has invested $50 million for facility construction and annual programming through the Academy. To learn more, visit nats4good.org.