Despite not getting a win on the field, Kyle Schwarber still found a way to bring victory to many in Philadelphia on Wednesday evening.
Hosting the second annual Schwarber’s Block Party at Yards Brewing in Northern Liberties, Kyle and his wife Paige were happy to welcome many of Philadelphia’s first responders to a night out. Holding the same event this past September, the Schwarber crew wanted to continue the festivities in 2024.
During the event, he spoke with the media to describe the importance of first responders and how his family roots shaped his appreciation for public servants.
Schwarber’s Neighborhood Heroes
Kyle started Schwarber’s Neighborhood Heroes in 2017 when he was with the Chicago Cubs. He comes from a family of first responders and military personnel, with his father being a police officer. From a young age, Kyle understood the duty and honor of being a public servant. He has made sure to use his platform to give back to those who serve.
“It means a lot. Now that baseball is [a] job, [to] have the platform to kind of raise awareness and sign a lot of good, create a lot of programs. There are a lot of programs around Philadelphia that benefit families, first responders, military and to be able to speak to them and see all the things that are going on in the community.” – Kyle Schwarber
The Schwarber family has brought Schwarber’s Neighborhood Heroes to every city he has played in his Major League Career. Starting in Chicago, moving to Washington D.C., Boston, and now of course Philadelphia. Kyle spoke about how important it is the ingrain himself in the city where he is playing. He also spoke about how crucial it was to establish his roots in Philly.
“Yeah, you know, for me, everyone knows us [as] baseball players. And I feel like wherever you want to go, you want to try to invent yourself in your community, right? This is, this is home for us. And we’re raising our kids here. And we want to try to get involved as much as we can. And obviously, this means a lot to my family and background, and try to create a lot of good community and create great experiences for people and for everyone to kind of know us not just as baseball players but as humans as well.” – Kyle Schwarber
Family Affair
I have gotten the opportunity to cover several player-hosted events during my time with Philly Sports Network. Regardless of the host, the Phillies have always shown incredible support to their own. Wednesday night was no exception as players, coaches, and members of the organization showed out at Yards Brewing Company.
Schwarber was asked what it meant to have his teammates come out and support him in a matter that was meaningful to him. He responded, “Yeah, yeah, I mean, the support that we have with each other, we have a big family and you know we don’t ever expect everyone to be with us.”
He would continue and say “To see the support our guys give every single time that we have a charity event and see what they do for [1] obviously the city but [2] for the community and within the city as well its amazing for what these guys do. We really appreciate the support that they give us. And I can’t say enough good things about this group of guys.”
Spreading the Word
The goal of the event is to raise both funds and awareness for first responders and their families. So many people in the city of Philadelphia put their lives on the line to help others. These people truly are heroes and deserve every ounce of the spotlight that can be shined upon them.
For more information on Schwarber’s Neighborhood Heroes, you can check out their website. As long as Kyle is in Philadelphia, you can expect him to be involved in the community and support these great causes. The Phillies continue to shine both on and off the field with hard work, humble personalities, and a whole lot of love for their fans and community.
Photo Credit: (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
