Established in 1976, the Yawkey Foundation continues the charitable legacy of Tom and Jean Yawkey by serving the communities they lived in and were actively involved in during their lifetimes: Boston, Massachusetts and Georgetown, South Carolina.
As the longtime owners of the Boston Red Sox, the Yawkey’s passion for their community extended to children and families in need, and the Yawkey Foundation is committed to perpetuating their philanthropy by bettering the lives of the underserved in the communities they called home. The Foundation focuses its efforts on six areas: youth and amateur sports, education, arts & culture, health care, human services, and conservation & wildlife.Established in 1976, the Yawkey Foundation continues the charitable legacy of Tom and Jean Yawkey by serving the communities they lived in and were actively involved in during their lifetimes: Boston, Massachusetts and Georgetown, South Carolina.
As the longtime owners of the Boston Red Sox, the Yawkey’s passion for their community extended to children and families in need, and the Yawkey Foundation is committed to perpetuating their philanthropy by bettering the lives of the underserved in the communities they called home. The Foundation focuses its efforts on six areas: youth and amateur sports, education, arts & culture, health care, human services, and conservation & wildlife.
Throughout their lives, the Yawkeys served in many philanthropic leadership roles. Tom Yawkey served on the board of The Jimmy Fund, a childhood cancer research charity, and served as a trustee, chairman, and president for the foundation established by Dr. Sidney Farber that would become the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Jean Yawkey also served as a trustee and chairperson of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
The Yawkey Foundation has long been committed to aiding nonprofit organizations through grants and capital funding, which allows it to reach many individuals needing assistance. The Yawkey Scholars program helps talented high school seniors from Massachusetts and Georgetown County, SC obtain a college education through tuition support and other related aid.
The Foundation's grants provide nonprofits with a range of financial support that helps them fulfill their mission by improving outreach and impact through diverse programs and other aid vital to the organization's mission, such as physical spaces and equipment. To date, the Foundation has awarded more than $500 million in grants to nonprofit organizations.
The Yawkey Foundation continues to fulfill Tom and Jean Yawkey’s philanthropic legacy by honoring their commitment to care for the most vulnerable members of society.
Since 2005, the Yawkey Scholars Program has provided millions in tuition support to over 350 scholars pursuing a college education. The program aims to make a college education affordable for accomplished and driven low-income high school seniors from Massachusetts and Georgetown County, South Carolina that are among the first in their family to earn a bachelor’s degree.
After holding their wedding in Georgetown, South Carolina, Tom and Jean Yawkey were inspired to make a charitable gift to support the construction of Georgetown Memorial Hospital. This significant gift provided the primarily rural Georgetown County with its first large medical center. The Yawkey Foundation continues this support, including a $10 million donation in 2018, which enabled the construction of the Yawkey Surgical Pavilion named in Tom and Jean Yawkey’s honor.
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources was gifted 24,000 acres of shorefront land by Tom and Jean Yawkey as part of their conservation legacy. The Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center was established in honor of Tom and, along with research partners, has helped to develop and teach the importance of wildlife conservation.
Tom Yawkey first began supporting the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in 1939. The Yawkey Foundation has continued to provide support through grants for construction and renovation, artifact preservation, technology and digitization, education programs, and many other areas.
Youth Enrichment Services (YES) inspires and challenges Boston youth with physical and mental activities that foster life-long respect for self, others, and the environment through enriching programming for thousands of children and teens, primarily from Dorchester, Roxbury, and Mattapan. The Yawkey Foundation has provided support to help YES deliver on its mission of offering unique, active outdoor experiences essential for healthy development.
Foundation Stats
1976
Founded
$500M
Charitable grants
$114M
Education
$89M
Youth athletics
Foundation Leadership
Founders
Tom and Jean Yawkey
Chairman
John L. Harrington
Chief Executive Officer
Maureen H. Bleday
Founder Quote
“Do what is right. Do it quietly. And don’t expect praise for being kind.”
