Phillies DH Kyle Schwarber is PSWA’s Ed Snider Humanitarian of the Year for 2024
By Mike Shute, PSWA President-Elect
In 2024, for the second straight season, Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber was the team’s nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award which is given annually to the Major League Baseball player who best represents the game through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions both on and off the field. Each MLB team nominates one player from its roster for the award each year.
Schwarber’s Neighborhood Heroes was established in 2017 to “express gratitude for the unique sacrifices of first responders and their families by creating positive experiences, as well as funding wellness, education and crisis needs for first-responder families.” And he has continued that since arriving in Philadelphia ahead of the 2022 season.
The non-profit has awarded grants to other organizations like the Philadelphia Police and Fire Department Foundations, Families Behind the Badge Children’s Foundation, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), Team Foster and the USO. In June, Schwarber hosted “Schwarber’s Block Party,” a fundraising event in Philadelphia for military members and first responders. The next night, he opened Citizens Bank Park during an off-day to host a Neighborhood Heroes Appreciation Party for hundreds of heroes and their families.
For his heartfelt off-the-field efforts, the 31-year-old Schwarber has been named the recipient of the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association’s Ed Snider Humanitarian of the Year Award. Unfortunately, Schwarber is unable to attend this year’s event, but tickets are still available and the public is welcome to join in on the history 120th PSWA Awards Banquet. Click here for ticket info and more details on our guests and honorees.
Schwarber’s charitable organization is something that comes from a place of personal experience. His father, Greg, was a police officer and eventual police chief for more than 30 years in Middletown, OH. His mother, Donna, was a registered nurse and had previously been a police dispatcher. Plus, Kyle’s sister, Lindsey, was in the Army National Guard and also became a member of the Middletown Police Department.
“You want to impact your community, not just in terms of playing baseball, but you can give people a little bit of an inside look of you away from baseball and things that you’re passionate about and really care for,” Schwarber told MLB.com in September when his 2024 Clemente nomination was announced.
Schwarber told the MLB Network’s program, MLB Central on September 9: “You get a very unique opportunity to meet a lot of individuals who, for one: it might not be a great time in their lives. And, two: You get to make a positive impact on them and you don’t know if that’s going to last for a day, a week, a month, a year or a lifetime.
“The sacrifices you see first responders and military personnel make on a daily basis are massive. But the unsung heroes of it all are the family members, the spouses who keep everything locked down at home, making sure the kids are where they need to be when they need to be there. I was one of the lucky kids growing up, where my dad came home. There’s a lot of families out there who aren’t that lucky so to be able to play a supporting role and create positive experiences is important.”
To learn more about Schwarber’s efforts, visit schwarbersneighborhoodheroes.org.
