Major League teams across the country have embraced the holiday season with several charitable events affecting the communities they serve. Major League Baseball’s Central Office has also leaped into the season of giving, beginning the week before Thanksgiving with a food drive that will assist dozens of families in need of support.
MLB’s SOMOS employee resource group (ERG), a group formed to enhance baseball’s efforts in the Hispanic, Latino and Latinx community, handed out a variety of canned foods, boxed items and turkeys to families in Corona, Queens.
“This is a way for us to help families but also have positive and fun conversations within the community,” SOMOS co-chair William Rodriguez said. “Seeing smiles on the faces of mothers, fathers and children is always a good feeling and blessing. We hope to continue this partnership in the future as this is always a successful event.”
Traditionally, SOMOS (Spanish for “we are”), which was formed in 2015 and provides opportunities for employees engagement, professional development and community involvement, has supported local community-focused organizations. This year was no exception. MLB SOMOS partnered with Elmcor, a non-profit organization founded in 1965 with the goal of fostering positive life changes for individuals and families through skills development leading to self-sufficiency.
In 2017, the MLB Central Office launched its Employee Resource Groups (ERG). MLB established employee resource groups to provide employees with a forum to gather with other employees who hold common interests, identities and/or social issues.
The ERGs support the league’s business objectives by fostering business development, serving as a valuable support mechanism, creating a forum for career development opportunities and promoting cultural awareness.
The nine MLB ERGs that were created include the following: A2E (Athletes to Executives), Asian ERG, MLB Black ERG, Home Base (Working Parents) ERG, MLB H.Y.P.E (High-Potential Young Professional Employees) ERG, MVP (Military Veterans Professionals) ERG, PRIDE ERG, Women ERG and SOMOS ERG.
“The spirit of community service has been a very important piece of my life, especially being born and raised in Puerto Rico,” said SOMOS co-chair Chanel Zapata. “The legacy of Roberto Clemente is all about serving, helping and empowering others, and that’s why I am so proud to serve our community through MLB SOMOS.”
“Opportunities such as these give us glimpses into challenges faced by those less fortunate than us and allows us to give back through MLB,” Sho Kikuchi, co-chair of Athletes 2 Executives, said. “It is an absolute pleasure to be able to give them joy through the game and by contributing to their Thanksgiving celebrations.”