- 817 words
Aug. 20, 2026, 11:12 a.m. CT
Contributing to an incredible 22-0 Milwaukee Brewers victory wasn’t outfielder Christian Yelich’s only win on Tuesday, Aug. 18.
Earlier in the day, the 2018 National League MVP was announced as another kind of MVP − a Most Valuable Philanthropist.
The Players Trust, the longtime charitable arm of the Major League Baseball Players Association, bestowed the honor upon Yelich – with a commemorative giant chain, no less. The MLBPA is the union that represents MLB teams’ major and minor league players.
“Christian’s dedication to using his platform for good is inspiring and demonstrates the impact players can have within their communities,” said former Brewers pitcher Chris Capuano, chair of the Players Trust board of trustees, in a news release. “We are proud to honor his commitment and sense of stewardship by naming him Most Valuable Philanthropist for August.”
“Obviously, you don’t do the charity work and all that to be recognized with awards or anything like that,” Yelich said in an Instagram video about the honor, posted by the MLBPA. “But, it’s nice that, you know, the Players Trust saw what we were doing in Milwaukee and just trying to help people out. Help the community that supports us throughout the year. It’s special for me.”
The release shouted-out Christian and the Yelich family’s annual Home Plate Charity Concert, which held its fourth installment in May. This year’s event, held at Landmark Credit Union Live, benefited charitable organizations across the Greater Milwaukee Area, according to its website. It featured country star Jake Owen headlining and openers Isaac Slade (The Fray’s former frontman) and the Nicotine Dolls. Wisconsin’s own Charlie Berens served as emcee and an auctioneer for the event’s live auction, and he also performed a comedy set. A number of Yeli’s teammates were in attendance.
In years past, the charity concert’s website said, the Yelich family has supported the VISIT Milwaukee Foundation, which provides scholarships to local students studying the hospitality industry at area colleges and universities, as well as the Brewers Community Foundation, which works to impact the lives of children and their families in Greater Milwaukee and Wisconsin.
“The special part” for Yelich, he said in the video, is getting to meet people he’s helped out, see where a lot of the work goes and what he’s able to raise money for.
With the MVP accolade comes a $10,000 Players Trust grant, which goes to the honoree’s charity or charities of choice.
On Yelich’s behalf, the $10,000 will be split between Stoughton, Wisconsin’s Heartland Farm Sanctuary and Tennessee-based Snooty Giggles Dog Rescue. In the video, Yelich said he’s a big fan of animals and had a bunch growing up.
“To be recognized and bring awareness to what we are doing in the community is so wonderful,” Heartland Farm Sanctuary’s director of development and community engagement, Annie Aschenbrenner, said in an email to the Journal Sentinel.
Heartland cares for nearly 70 rescued farm animals from 13 different species, provides experiential therapy to participants (aged 2-22) “working in partnership” with its rescued animal residents and offers humane education programming “to inspire compassion and empathy,” Aschenbrenner explained.
The $5,000 grant “means an incredible amount” to Heartland, Aschenbrenner said, and will be used to continue providing “compassionate care” to its rescue animals and will allow the sanctuary to develop its programming to continue offering “unique opportunities” to children in the community.
“If you’re in a position to be able to do some good and to give back, I think it’s really nice to be able to use that platform, and to be able to help others,” Yelich said in the video.
This marked the fifth of six Most Valuable Philanthropist honors being awarded during the 2026 season “to players who demonstrate an altruistic spirit and positive social impact beyond the diamond.”
Later, on the night of Aug. 18, Yelich broke the Brewers v. Seattle Mariners game open in the bottom of the fifth at American Family Field, emerging from a slump with a two-out, three-run homer. The Crew ended up crushing Seattle, 22-0, tying the franchise record for runs scored in a game, matching a 1992 game.
The following day, the Brewers fell to the Mariners, 7-5, in Game 2. The third and final game of the series is at 1:10 p.m. Aug. 20. The Brewers currently have the best record in baseball, 78-49.
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