Nationals Philanthropies honors former player Ian Desmond with Power of Baseball Award

Washington Nationals Philanthropies, the official charitable arm of the Washington Nationals Baseball Club, hosted its annual signature fundraising event Monday night, honoring former player Ian Desmond with its annual Power of Baseball Award. The Nationals Homecoming Gala, presented by The Annette M. and Theodore N. Lerner Family Foundation, raised nearly $800,000 to further Nationals Philanthropies’ community impact work. Held at held at The Anthem at The Wharf, the event was attended by members of the Lerner family, the Washington Nationals baseball club and front office, corporate leaders and representatives from local government. Auction items can continue to be bid on until 8 p.m. ET on Friday, March 28, at nats.com/homecomingauction.

The Power of Baseball Award, presented by The Annette M. and Theodore N. Lerner Family Foundation, is Washington Nationals Philanthropies’ most illustrious award, and recognizes an individual, corporation, organization or local group that embodies the positive character and level of achievement exemplified throughout the game of baseball.

“Ian was the first Nationals player to step up to the plate and champion the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy. That commitment and unwavering devotion to the goals and values of the program were instrumental to the foundation of the program, 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. “Ian’s legacy as the inaugural Player Ambassador to the Academy continues to make positive impacts to this day, as it is a coveted role passed on to the next generation of Nationals players, and his commitment to growing the game through his nonprofit organization, Newtown Connection, is truly inspiring.”

Drafted in the third round of the 2004 MLB June Amateur Draft by the Montreal Expos, Desmond played the first seven seasons of his 11-year MLB career in D.C. Part of the first wave of home-grown talent within the Nationals’ system, the shortstop quickly became a key member to the organization’s success and cemented himself as a fan favorite both on the field and in the community. In addition to receiving three consecutive Silver Slugger Awards and All-Star selections, Desmond was the inaugural Player Ambassador to the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy; a founding member of the Academy Board of Directors; a seven-time Roberto Clemente Award nominee (twice with the Nationals); and five-time Heart & Hustle Award winner (four times with the Nationals) throughout his career.

“Ian played an integral role in the success of the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy since its inception, helping it become the welcoming and positive environment for holistic youth development that it is today,” Lauren McCarthy, Vice President and Executive Director, Washington Nationals Philanthropies. “His dedication to ensuring young people have the opportunity to succeed on and off the baseball field is part of his legacy at the Academy, and we are excited to honor the lasting impact of his support at our Nationals Homecoming Gala.”

In 2020, Desmond opted out of the MLB season, eventually officially stepping away from professional baseball, but he remained committed to growing the game in underserved communities. Leaning on the blueprint of the Academy’s “YBA PLAY” program, Desmond co-founded a nonprofit organization, Newtown Connection, in his hometown of Sarasota, Fla. Operated through the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties, the organization works to create a level playing field by providing kids of all backgrounds a safe place at the intersection of sports, health and education.

“I am extremely grateful to be recognized by Washington Nationals Philanthropies as the 2025 recipient of the Power of Baseball Award. During my time with the Nationals organization, I was committed to contributing to the Youth Baseball Academy, ensuring children around D.C. had opportunities to succeed on and off the baseball diamond,” said Desmond. “Now, I am proud to have a nonprofit organization in my hometown that carries forward so many of the core values taught at the Academy where I can continue to make a positive impact and provide resources to the next generation.”

The Youth Baseball Academy, operated by Nationals Philanthropies as its signature program, has since delivered 11 years of holistic youth development, academic enrichment, wellness education, and youth sports experiences to thousands of school-age children living east of the Anacostia River. Since beginning after school programs in the fall of 2013, six classes have matriculated from third through eighth grade in the BASE afterschool and summer program, going on to excel on and off the baseball field at some of the region’s most competitive high schools.

The Academy has grown into a community pillar, serving as a hub of support and a critical food access point for the neighborhood through its weekly produce market and meal programs. Ensuring participants are not playing and learning on empty stomachs has been a core feature of the Academy since its inception, and to deliver on that mission, the Academy partners with DC Central Kitchen to provide snacks and meals for all BASE programs and, since 2023, to more than 600 summer league and clinic participants at all four YBA PLAY sites. Since 2018, the organization has supported the delivery of more than one million meals into the Washington, D.C., region.

Recipients of the Power of Baseball Award are true ambassadors of the #Nats4Good mantra and continue to be exemplary stewards of a commitment to community. Past recipients include:

2024        Anthony “Tony” Williams, Former Mayor of Washington D.C.
2023        Ryan Zimmerman, Washington Nationals Former Player
2022        Theodore N. Lerner, Washington Nationals Founding Managing Principal Owner
2021         José Andrés for World Central Kitchen, COVID-19 Community Partner
2020        Dave Martinez, Washington Nationals Manager
2019         Inaugural Graduating Class, Nationals Youth Baseball Academy Scholar Athletes
2018         JMS Little League All-Star Team, D.C. Little League Championship Finalist
2017         Ross Eisenman, Nationals Youth Baseball Academy Mentor

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 more than $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. For more information about Nationals Philanthropies, visit nats4good.org.