By Meredith P. Kim
It’s been a couple of weeks since the All-Star Game, and I’m still riding the high of an unforgettable four days in Philadelphia.
The 2026 Capital One All-Star Village filled the Pennsylvania Convention Center with baseball and softball energy and became the largest MLB All-Star Village in history, welcoming more than 111,000 visitors. For Pitch In For Baseball & Softball, it was an incredible chance to meet fans, connect with families, and introduce more people to our mission: helping kids play ball.
Getting There Took a Team
Opportunities like this don’t come along often, and we didn’t get there alone. We’re grateful to Major League Baseball for creating an event that celebrates the game at every level — and for giving organizations like ours a place in it.
Our presence at All-Star Village was made possible by amazing partners and volunteers, including our advisory council member David James and our board members at Wilson Sporting Goods Co./EvoShield and Marucci Sports/Victus. Thanks to their support, PIFBS had prime real estate at ASV and connected with thousands of baseball and softball fans over four days. We even got to catch up with our dear friend Natasha Watley and her family!
Taking the PIFBS Mission to a Bigger Stage
Everyone at All-Star Village already shared something with us: a love for the game. That made it the perfect place to explain why access to equipment matters and how the right gear can open the door to confidence, teamwork, friendships, and fun.
Throughout the festival, our team welcomed visitors to the PIFBS booth, shared stories about the communities we serve, and showed fans how easy it can be to make a difference. For many attendees, it was their first introduction to PIFBS. Every conversation was a chance to grow our community and bring another supporter into the lineup.
None of it would have happened without the people who put our best foot forward every day. A very special thanks to our small but mighty staff — Sharon Scott, Steven Bizon, Ryan Rieber, Gabbi, and Jack Clancy — our amazing interns Hannah Brown, Lily Blankenship, and Madison Heckroth, and board members Marko and Allison Parsell, who helped make the experience memorable and impactful.
So Many Ways to Pitch In
One of the best parts of the event was showing people that there is no single way to support our mission. Equipment, volunteer time, and financial gifts can all help get more kids onto the field.
- Give or raise money. Financial support helps fund equipment distribution for kids in need.
- Donate or collect equipment. New and gently used gear can give more young players the chance to participate.
- Volunteer your time. Helping hands makes our work possible in fun and meaningful ways.
Our friends at Baseball BBQ kept the All-Star energy going by donating an exclusive All-Star Game Silver Slugger barbecue set for a fundraising giveaway. It was a fun way to turn excitement around the game into direct support for kids who need equipment.
From All-Star Exposure to Lasting Impact
The crowd may have moved on, but the connections and momentum will stay with us. PIFBS had a front-row opportunity to show more people how our work helps remove barriers to play.
That kind of exposure matters. The more people who know about PIFBS, the more equipment can be donated, the more volunteers can step up, and the more young players can experience everything the game has to offer. Moments like this are vital to ensuring we have the equipment and financial resources so that all kids have the gear they need to play ball.
We are grateful to everyone who stopped by, asked questions, spun the wheel, made a donation, or took a moment to learn about our mission. You made an already unforgettable week even more meaningful.
Ready to join the team? Visit pifbs.org to learn how you can donate, organize an equipment drive, volunteer, or help spread the word.