MILWAUKEE— The sound of tape, scissors and holiday music filled American Family Field as Brewers employees gathered for the team’s annual All Hands on Deck Gift Wrapping Event, where staff wrapped and donated $5,000 worth of toys for children across Milwaukee.
The gifts — purchased and donated by front office staff — will be distributed through long-standing community partners the United Community Center and Northcott Neighborhood House, ensuring families in need receive support heading into the holidays.
Brewers Community Foundation Executive Director Cecelia Gore says the initiative is about more than presents, it’s about connection.
“We recognize that we play the game of baseball,” Gore said. “But it’s also important for us to be engaged beyond the diamond and make a difference. And that’s what we’re trying to do.”
This year’s event is part of the Brewers’ larger Beyond the Diamond outreach effort, a year- round initiative focused on strengthening neighborhoods, supporting youth programs, and meeting basic needs throughout Wisconsin. The gift wrapping day is one of more than 115 community appearances made this year by Brewers players, coaches and staff.
The holiday event comes as the Brewers Community Foundation announced a milestone achievement: more than $5.7 million raised in 2025. This adds a total of $66 million raised since the foundation’s inception in 2010. Funding supported roughly 200 nonprofits statewide, from domestic violence shelters to after-school programs, healthcare providers and senior services.
Gore says the impact is visible far beyond stadium walls.
“United Community center and Norcott Neighborhood House have been long standing partners,” Gore said. “We fund about 200 nonprofits, annually. So actually, we could close our eyes and pick any one of those organizations because they all do really great work. But this year, we identified those two groups because we know that they have some significant holiday efforts and they’re working with families and kids, and we thought they would be a good group to partner with.”
Other contributions this year included the 50/50 Raffle, which raised a record-setting $4 million, and dozens of outreach programs such as the Brewers Book Shelf Build and Play Ball Weekend.
As families prepare for the holidays, the Brewers say the mission remains simple. Brighten the season, strengthen then communities, and keep showing up for Milwaukee.