The Roberto Clemente Award presented by Capital One is an annual accolade recognizing a Major League Baseball player who exemplifies the sport through exceptional character, community involvement, philanthropy, and positive contributions both on and off the field.
As part of this annual tradition, each MLB team nominates one player for the league-wide award, honoring Roberto Clemente’s legacy and impact.
Since joining the league in 2019, Manny Machado has been notably active in community service. In 2023, he intensified his efforts to honor the philanthropic spirit of late Padres owner Peter Seidler. Machado embraced opportunities to support Seidler’s causes, particularly focusing on homelessness. He played a crucial role in funding and promoting the development of The San Diego Rescue Mission’s South County Light House, which provides dedicated support to individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
Machado also collaborated with the Padres to launch the Be A Pro And Always Go program to combat chronically low school attendance rates. This initiative, created in partnership with the San Diego Unified School District, features Machado encouraging school attendance and promises to visit the classroom with the highest improvement in attendance, providing game tickets to the entire school as an incentive. This effort led to a nearly five percent increase in countywide attendance rates, resulting in significant boosts in state funding for schools in need.
In addition to these new initiatives, Machado continued his annual contributions, such as hosting disadvantaged children from San Diego and Baja through his “Manny’s Hot Corner” program and making surprise holiday visits to local schools to deliver new bikes. He also exemplified his role as an international ambassador by participating in youth clinics during the Padres’ trips to Seoul and Mexico City, reinforcing MLB.
Despite the demands of fatherhood, Machado managed to establish his own foundation, Team Machado – The Sky’s the Limit, which supports underprivileged youth in San Diego, Miami, and the Dominican Republic. One of his annual events involves providing backpacks and school supplies to foster children through local organizations. Machado’s ability to balance personal life with significant community involvement highlights his dedication. He has become a beloved figure in San Diego not just for his on-field performance, but for his profound impact on the community.
Roberto Clemente Day presented by Capital One is observed on Sunday, September 15th, celebrating Clemente’s humanitarian legacy and acknowledging the nominees for the Roberto Clemente Award. The day will feature the award’s logo on bases and dugout lineup cards, and a tribute video honoring Clemente and the nominees will be shown in MLB ballparks and across various MLB platforms.
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