Key Takeaways
- New York Life enters its third consecutive year as presenting sponsor of the Little League Community Heroes program, which it first backed in 2024.
- Five 2026 Community Heroes of the Year will receive local-league donations from New York Life during an on-field ceremony at the Little League Baseball World Series.
- Honorees range from a youth player running a cancer-support foundation to a treasurer who helped keep her league from closing.
- Little League reaches roughly two million players across every U.S. state and more than 80 countries, operated by over one million volunteers.
- All five honorees attend the MLB Little League Classic on August 23, where the Brewers face the Braves under New York Life presenting sponsorship.
A Recognition Program Now in Its Third Sponsored Year
Little League International and New York Life named five recipients of the 2026 Little League Community Heroes of the Year award, continuing a partnership that began in 2024. New York Life serves as presenting sponsor of the broader Community Heroes recognition program, a year-long effort that highlights players, coaches, umpires, league officials, team parents, and other volunteers.
The recognition program itself dates to 2020. In 2022, nominees featured in the program’s weekly social posts became eligible for the year-end Community Hero of the Year honor. The 2026 class was selected from that pool of featured nominees.
“The Little League Community Heroes of the Year Award spotlights the incredible spirit of the millions of volunteers who step up to the plate every year,” said Patrick Wilson, Little League President and CEO.
The Five 2026 Honorees
The class reflects a range of league roles and community work:
- Theo Price, a player at Georgetown Community LL in Fort Wayne, Indiana, was diagnosed with bone cancer in October 2024. He runs Swings4Theo, which provides free Minor League Baseball tickets to families of children facing cancer or other serious illnesses.
- Kennedy Fees, a player at West Suburban LL in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and a 2025 Little League Softball World Series champion, hosts a “Strikeout Diabetes” tournament supporting youth living with Type 1 Diabetes.
- Beverly Bogar, league treasurer at West Pasadena LL in California, previously served as president and led efforts to keep the league open when it faced closure.
- Kevin Garrison, marketing and PR manager at Coulwood Oakdale LL in Charlotte, North Carolina, organized two straight weeks of food, water, and supply deliveries after Hurricane Helene.
- Alyssa Lopez, Challenger Division director at Sunset LL in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, leads inclusive programming for players and families and volunteers with her local Special Olympics.
Multiple Activation Points Across the Season
New York Life’s sponsorship connects to several Little League touchpoints rather than a single moment. Each honoree’s local league receives a donation from the company during an on-field ceremony at the 2026 Little League Baseball World Series, presented by T-Mobile, in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
The honorees are also invited to the 2026 MLB Little League Classic, presented by New York Life, on Sunday, August 23, where the Milwaukee Brewers play the Atlanta Braves. The Classic gives the sponsorship a nationally televised moment in the same window as the World Series.
“It’s incredibly exciting to be back in Williamsport, honoring the amazing work done by the 2026 recipients,” said Harrison Laifer, Head of Sponsorships at New York Life.
From Weekly Posts to the World Series Field
The Community Heroes structure gives New York Life recognition touchpoints across the full Little League calendar. Nominees are featured in weekly social posts throughout the year, the year-end class is named in June, league donations are presented on the World Series field in August, and honorees appear at the MLB Little League Classic the same month. With nominations open for the next cycle at LittleLeague.org, the program is built to recur each season.
For brands evaluating youth sports, the format shows how a volunteer-recognition platform can extend a single sponsorship into a year-round content stream tied to grassroots participation rather than competitive results. New York Life’s move from a 2024 launch to a third consecutive year suggests the model is delivering enough value to renew.
Source: Little League, June 11, 2026
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