2020 Giants in the Community
By: San Francisco Giants
Tags: San Francisco, San Francisco Giants, Community Relations, Community, MLB

The 2020 baseball season will forever be remembered for the unique challenges we all confronted from the COVID-19 pandemic and racial injustices to economic uncertainty and each of us having to adjust to life’s new “normals.” The Giants understand the important role we play both on and off the field in responding to the needs facing our fans and community, especially those who are most vulnerable. Here are some of the ways in which we supported our community during these unprecedented times:

COVID-19 Resources

COVID-19 brought the world into unprecedented times and, like you, the Giants continue to navigate this new terrain day by day, working to keep our colleagues, neighbors and loved ones healthy and safe and figuring out ways to help those most impacted by this pandemic. The COVID-19 resource center provides up-to-date information about the baseball season, resources for those impacted by the pandemic, and connects fans with organizations in the Bay Area that are serving those in need during this time.

Black Lives Matter Resources

The Giants continue to encourage fans to reflect on where they personally stand on racism and what they choose to do to make our workplaces, our communities, and our world free of hatred and racial injustice. The Giants created this space to offer a variety of resources, curated in hope of provoking thoughts, encouraging conversations, and deepening our understanding of what social justice means to each of us.

Be Giant. Vote

The Giants believe one of the more powerful actions we can take to affect the future of our democracy is exercising our right to vote. Leading up to the 2020 election the Be Giant. Vote resource page provided information and resources to help fans to participate in the voting process. The Giants encouraged fans to vote through a variety of public service announcements from President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi, General Manager Scott Harris and Skipper Gabe Kapler.

San Francisco-Marin Food Bank

The Giants, Port Authority of San Francisco and San Francisco-Marin Food Bank partnered early in the pandemic to establish a pop-up pantry in parking Lot A across from Oracle Park to address food insecurity in the community. The drive thru pantry has distributed over 2 million pounds of food and served close to 60,000 individuals during the pandemic. The pantry will remain in operation as needed.

When the 2020 baseball season came to a close 1,600 pounds of excess food from the Giants Clubhouse at Oracle Park was donated to the SF-Marin Food Bank.

Additionally, through the “Be Giant. Vote” campaign, Giants front office volunteers registered voters for the 2020 election in conjunction with food bank pop-up in parking Lot A.

Junior Giants at Home

The Giants Community Fund pivoted the annual Junior Giants program to a virtual setting with the launch of Junior Giants at Home. In collaboration with the SF Giants Coaching Staff and our team of 90 AmeriCorps Ambassadors, the Giants Community Fund was able to serve over 12,300 kids across four seasons of programming.

During the off season kids can participate in Junior Giants On Demand. The digital platform helps bring the spirit of the baseball season into any household year-round. With 150+ videos and downloadable activities, families now have access to Giants-style, positive programming at their fingertips. Whether they are hopping on an on-demand Junior Giants at Home practice, trying out a new baseball drill from an SF Giants coach in their living rooms or Word of the Week, the game is theirs.

International AIDS Conference

The 23rd International AIDS Conference, originally scheduled to be held in both San Francisco and Oakland, but as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, was held virtually. While the Giants, along with the Oakland Athletics, were excited to welcome the conference participants to the Bay Area, we did so but through our virtual sponsorship of the 2020 International AIDS Conference as we continued to support the fight against HIV/AIDS. There were more than 9,500 delegates from around the world who participated in the virtual conference which was appropriately themed — Resilience.

As part of our participation in the virtual conference, the Giants and A’s hosted a live panel discussion on July 7 with Billy Bean, Major League Baseball’s Vice President, Senior Advisor to the Commissioner and Ambassador for Inclusion; the Executive Directors of the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center, Joe Hawkins, and the Until There’s A Cure Foundation, Nora Hanna; and moderated by Roscoe Mapps, Giants Vice President of External Affairs.

Additionally, as part of World AIDS Day on December 1, the National AIDS Memorial hosted virtual displays of the AIDS Memorial Quilt. The San Francisco Giants Quilt display honors members of our extended Giants family who have lost their lives to HIV/AIDS. The Giants display can be viewed at aidsmemorial.org.

Mask Donations

200,000 cloth masks were distributed in Northern California communities through a unique public health initiative between Dignity Health, the San Francisco Giants, the San Francisco 49ers and KNBR.

Levi’s Community Advocate

Levi’s® and the Giants teamed up to highlight and honor six nonprofits in our community who are taking action and making a difference for those most in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The six organizations who were recognized support and serve as a resource for veterans, people experiencing homelessness, victims of domestic violence and those that are in need of an extra hand during these unprecedented times. These organizations included the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, Larkin Street Youth Services, Swords to Plowshares, Project Open Hand, La Casa de las Madres and Homeless Prenatal Program.

Miracle League of the North Bay

The Miracle League of the North Bay hosted Homer’s Honk & Cheer parade on June 20 to lift the spirits of the Miracle League players as most are at high risk for COVID-19. Families, kids, and league supporters gathered in their cars at a roundabout at Lucchesi Park and took their places in a caravan. At the front was a vehicle carrying Homer, the exuberant, baseball-headed mascot of the league.

Each of the players present received a goodie bag that included gifts from the San Francisco Giants, parents and others, and included Miracle League face masks, Giants T-shirts, Hello Kitty and Star Wars bobbleheads and keepsake medals. Lou Seal also made a video for everyone who participated.

Watch the video here.

100th Anniversary of the Negro Leagues

On Sunday, August 16 the San Francisco Giants joined Major League Baseball in honoring the 100th anniversary of the Negro Leagues. From the San Francisco Sea Lions, to Willie Mays, the impact of the Negro Leagues is felt throughout the fabric of baseball and the San Francisco Giants.

Fire Relief — Northern CA

The Giants and the American Red Cross of Northern CA teamed up to spread awareness on how fans can help those affected by the devastating fires in California. A microsite was created and raised over $15,000 to help meet urgent demand and help those impacted start their recovery efforts.

Reese Osterberg — Buster Posey

Reese Osterberg, 9-years old, reached out to the Giants and Buster Posey after the Creek Fire destroyed her family home and her beloved baseball card collection. To lift her spirits, Buster surprised her on a video call. Reese thought she was doing an interview with ABC News until her favorite player appeared on screen.

SFFD Firefighter/Paramedic Jason Cortez Memorial

A private memorial for San Francisco firefighter-paramedic Jason Cortez, who died while on duty Oct. 7, was hosted at Oracle Park. Cortez, a former Giants Dugout Store employee and 13-year veteran of SFFD, lived a life of service and is remembered for his dedication to his family and his community. In addition to hosting the memorial service, the Giants were able to provide custom jerseys for Cortez’s family and SFFD Station 3 in his memory.

View the memorial service here.

Community and Special Events

The Giants’ robust special events calendar was reduced due to the shortened season and the inability of fans to gather together at the ballpark. The Giants hosted a number of these events virtually to recognize the important work being done in our communities. Virtual special events included Educator Appreciation Night, Essential Workers Appreciation Night, Strike Out Violence Day, Until There’s a Cure, Nurses Night and more. Giants broadcasters, players and coaches participated in panel discussions to raise awareness for these causes.

Instagram // amyg

Virtual Experiences Support

The pandemic quickly changed the working environment to a virtual experience including the way our players,coaches, alumni, broadcasters, and mascot support the community. The Giants responded to numerous requests throughout the season to support our community partners and fans. Video calls with local high school sports teams, PSA videos to help community groups spread awareness, messages of hope to those going through hardships, videos for local hospitals and frontline workers, and videos of celebration for graduations, fundraisers, birthdays, and retirements were created throughout the year.