NEW YORK – Citi announced today that Todd Frazier will serve as the New York Mets’ ambassador for the Citi Community Home Runs program.
The program, launched in 2014, will return to Citi Field this season in an effort to help fight childhood hunger in NYC and across the U.S. For every home run the Mets hit at Citi Field this season, Citi will donate enough for No Kid Hungry to provide 20,000 meals to children in need.
“I am very passionate about supporting children in our community and helping pave the way for their future success,” said Todd Frazier, the Mets’ new third basemen. “I am excited that one the first initiatives I am involved in as part of the Mets organization is Citi Community Home Runs. As ambassador, I will have the opportunity to bring visibility to this great cause that supports children in New York City and across the country.”
Through the Citi Community Home Runs program, Citi has donated enough for No Kid Hungry to provide more than four million meals to kids facing hunger in America.
“The Citi Community Home Runs program is one of the key ways that we give back to the NYC community through our partnership with the Mets,” said Ed Skyler, Head of Global Public Affairs at Citi. “We’re excited to welcome Todd Frazier as our new ambassador – his passion for helping children in the community makes him a great partner for us, and we look forward to working with him to raise awareness and excitement about Citi Community Home Runs this season.”
No Kid Hungry’s mission is to end childhood hunger in America by connecting kids in need with nutritious food as well as teaching families how to cook healthy, affordable meals.
“Thanks to the support of Citi and other great partners, the No Kid Hungry campaign has driven school breakfast participation to historic highs and provided kids facing hunger with more than 775 million meals,” says Billy Shore, Executive Chairman at Share Our Strength. “Just in New York City, we’ve made huge strides to make breakfast part of the school day for all of the city’s elementary school students. Citi’s partnership is critical to our mission to end childhood hunger in America, and with its support, we can make No Kid Hungry a reality in America.”
In addition to announcing Frazier as the new ambassador, Citi is highlighting the Citi Community Home Runs program in two new ways at Citi Field this season, including unveiling a large, clear, apple-shaped permanent fixture in the ballpark to help show the accumulation of meals donated to No Kid Hungry throughout the season. After every Mets home run, a fan will be featured on Citi Vision tossing a bucket of foam apples into the large, clear apple, signifying Citi’s ongoing contribution to No Kid Hungry.
Citi and the Mets are also introducing the “Citi Community Home Runs Challenge,” which will take place on the field at home games this season. As part of the Challenge, select fans will have the chance to take their best shot at launching a t-shirt across the stadium and into the famous Mets Home Run Apple using a Citi-branded t-shirt launcher. Those that successfully hit the Mets Home Run Apple will receive a prize, courtesy of Citi, and each participant will trigger a donation amount equivalent to 1,000 meals for kids facing hunger.
