2023 GIVING & IMPACT

The Alonso Foundation works year round to aid those in need, providing funding and support to many organizations. These reports are our opportunity to look back to better understand what that support translated to in actual impact for the beneficiaries and document our legacy.

Download 2023 Impact Report

“I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the light that I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right, and stand with him while he is right”

– ABRAHAM LINCOLN

2023 & THE ALONSO FOUNDATION

The Alonso Foundation was founded by Haley and Pete Alonso with the mission to advocate for and support those who are unable to speak up for themselves. Our vision is to create a better world for those who need it most – specifically to support youth causes, aid for veterans and animal welfare. We are achieving these goals through a combination of advocacy, grantmaking and program creation.

2023 was a strong year for us as we let our mission continue to guide all of the work we do.
We strive to support causes that lessen hardships and improve life for those in need to create a positive and lasting impact in our world. These pillars are at the core of our giving mission. Always looking to create a brighter future for others, Haley and Pete Alonso have streamlined funding to align with organizations focused in these areas. Within the three pillars several common themes exist which the Alonso Foundation also hopes to address and improve directly. They include a focus on mental health, safe outdoor play and reduced screen time for youth, access to much needed rescue services and reduction of animals being euthanized. Our goal continues to be developing long lasting and legacy relationships with organizations working to better the situations faced by so many across the communities we serve. Special attention has also been given to disaster relief this year and helping on the ground when life was painfully disrupted.

In addition to our grant-making work, in 2023 we launched The Love of The Game initiative with several New York-based organizations. These well-deserving community resources each received donations from The Alonso Foundation along with 50 tickets, plus food and merchandise, to a Mets game. Each organization distributed the tickets to their youth and family beneficiaries, many of whom had never been to a game, as well as receiving a check on-field during a pregame presentation. Organizations ranged from a local community center to a support fund for families of fallen NYC First Responders, to an animal rescue shelter, and more. In a few cases, Pete made surprise visits to these groups and announced the donations while inviting them out to the field.

The pages that follow introduce a number of organizations that received grants and donations this year and how these funds translated into impact and assistance for those they serve.

ANSWER THE CALL

“The Alonso Foundation’s generous donation covered the full cost of our Annual Stipend for one of the 530 families we served in 2023. Answer the Call does not earmark how a family must use the Annual Stipend, because we recognize the needs of one family may differ from the needs of another. However, families have reported that they often use the Annual Stipend to help with their children’s education expenses, housing repairs, medical bills, and sometimes even a family vacation. In addition to providing much needed financial support, the Annual Stipend assures our families that their loved ones’ sacrifice has not been forgotten and that their families are not alone. Answer the Call is incredibly appreciative of The Alonso Foundation’s support and applaud Pete and Haley’s exemplary efforts to help the first responder community.”

- Lauren, Executive Director - Answer The Call

The mission of the New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund is to support the families of New York City Police Officers, Firefighters, Port Authority Police, and EMS Personnel who have been killed in the line of duty.

When these brave men and women make the ultimate sacrifice to protect our city, we believe it is our civic duty to support the families these heroes have left behind. Our mission is to reassure these families that we will never forget them or the sacrifice made by their loved ones. We provide financial assistance, host special gatherings, and offer a network of support to approximately 530 families. Our goal is to raise enough funds to assist these families for the rest of their lives. Now it’s our turn to Answer the Call.

BIG DOG RESCUE RANCH

“When we received calls to save dogs that were left to fend for themselves near the border, Big Dog Ranch Rescue responded to this critical emergency. Because of the support of the Alonso Foundation, we were able to save 96 dogs that were in dire need of help.

The dogs that were rescued and transported back to our Florida facility were starving, freezing, and completely abandoned. Many of these dogs were in need of immediate medical care. Back at Big Dog Ranch Rescue, they received food, warmth, medical attention, and love. Almost all of the 96 dogs have been adopted into caring homes.

Additionally, thanks to the Alonso Foundation, this original rescue mission served as a catalyst to return trips to the Texas border. We have gone back to Texas three times now and have rescued nearly 300 dogs. We plan on making a return trip the first week of March- please let me know if this is a good time to apply for a new grant. Your support means the world to our dedicated team!

I know the Alonso Foundation cares about supporting veterans too. Please note that, over the course of the last two years, we have paired 116 veterans with service dogs. These service dogs are trained at the ranch and are all dogs that were once in our shelter. The veterans are paired with these service dogs at no cost whatsoever to them. It takes months of training for each dog plus months of training from our passionate staff with these American heroes.

Note that we are expanding our veteran dog training program and also building boarding space for active military. Deployed military personnel often have the difficult choice of surrendering their dog or paying a fortune to board their dogs. We will provide boarding, food, and care to deployed military- again, at no cost whatsoever to them. If you and the Alonsos would like to visit the ranch this spring, we would love to host you and show you all the amazing work taking place at Big Dog Ranch Rescue.”

Big Dog Ranch Rescue was founded in 2008; since then, we have saved the lives of more than 59,000 dogs and counting. Our mission is to save 5,000 dogs every year, to heal and place them with loving families and to educate people about the proper care for dogs and the importance of spaying and neutering.

Our Mission is to Rescue, Rehabilitate and Educate until every dog has a loving and safe place to call home. We believe we can, and we will see an end to dog homelessness and abuse through legislative efforts, hard work and strategic partnerships near and far. We will never give up and we will never back down from the needs of all heartbeats because every life matters.

DIRECT RELIEF

In late August, 2023 Hurricane Idalia raked a path of destruction across Northern Florida, Georgia and Alabama. Part of the mission of The Alonso Foundation is to support when disaster strike and so a grant was given to Direct Relief to support work on the ground where it was most needed.

Direct Relief is a humanitarian aid organization, active in all 50 states and more than 80 countries, with a mission to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies – without regard to politics, religion, or ability to pay.

“He has to be the nicest man in baseball... Pete’s concern for others and the time he devotes to giving back is extraordinary. No one compares with Pete...Please pass along our sincere thanks to Pete and Haley for their kindness and generosity and for being such truly special people.”

– THE ALONSO FOUNDATION DONOR

HEROES & HORSES

“In 2023, the Alonso Foundation graciously awarded a grant to Heroes and Horses to support our 2024 program operations. More specifically, funding will support program supplies and equipment, including but not limited to, safety and navigation equipment for pack trips, participant clothing and gear, water filtration systems, pack equipment (saws, headlamps, tents), nutrition program supplies (cooking supplies and freeze dryers), pre- and post-program curriculum, and participant graduation awards. We are deeply grateful”

- Director, Heroes and Horses

Our mission at Heroes and Horses is to un-program the programmed. To offer combat veterans an alternative solution for defining and approaching their physical and mental scars—a solution that does not include prescription medications, or traditional psychotherapy, but rather the opportunity to use tools to redefine their purpose, rediscover their inner strength, and maximize their potential by taking ownership of their lives for the first time since leaving service. Our vision is to provide veterans the tools to discover what they already have. To thrive, find purpose, and live a life full of meaning. Over 41- days we use a 360-degree whole human approach that combines whole-food eating, mindset, breathing techniques, meditation, remote wilderness, and wild horses. Our goal is to break the addiction cycle of looking out for answers and outsourcing the decisions that impact their lives to others. You place a person at a disadvantage treating only a singular aspect of who they are. The symbiotic relationship between the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of a human must be considered if a person is to move forward in their life. Our vision looks at how everything works together creating the space so a person can heal.

HOMES FOR OUR TROOPS

“We remain incredibly grateful for Haley and Pete’s continued commitment to our mission of building and donating specially adapted custom homes for our nation’s severely injured post 9/11 Veterans,” says HFOT President/CEO Brigadier General, USA (Ret) Tom Landwermeyer. “The Alonso Foundation’s support will help two Tampa Bay area future HFOT home recipients regain some of the freedom and independence they sacrificed while serving our country, enabling them to rebuild their lives.”

Our mission is to build and donate specially adapted custom homes nationwide for severely injured post-9/11 Veterans, to enable them to rebuild their lives. Most of these Veterans have sustained injuries including multiple limb amputations, partial or full paralysis, and/or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). These homes restore some of the freedom and independence our Veterans sacrificed while defending our country, and enable them to focus on their family, recovery, and rebuilding their lives. Since its inception in 2004, nearly 90 cents out of every dollar spent has gone directly to our program services for Veterans. HFOT builds these homes where the Veteran chooses to live, and continues its relationship with the Veterans after home delivery to assist them with rebuilding their lives.

K9S FOR WARRIORS

The Alonso Foundation is proud to partner with K9s For Warriors. In late 2022, we sponsored the training of Bear and in 2023 we were excited that Bear graduated and was able to partner with a veteran, Sean. Pete and Haley were honored to have a chance to connect with both Sean and Bear. In 2023, we sponsored Derby who is being trained in 2024 and will soon partner with another veteran in need. This is a partnership that is close to all of our hearts and we love seeing the connection between these dogs and the veterans who need them.

K9s For Warriors is the nation’s largest veteran service organization focused on providing
highly trained Service Dogs to Warriors. Our program is focused on mitigating the debilitating symptoms of service-connected traumas. We validate our methods through tireless research and make breakthroughs every day. Successfully guiding a veteran through the K9s For Warriors program and providing them with a Service Dog doesn’t just change the Warrior’s life. It saves it.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support of Pete and Haley Alonso to further our mission. K9s For Warriors has the privilege every day to see the impact a Service Dog has on a veteran. With a battle buddy by their side, the veteran returns to a life of dignity and independence. Pete and Haley’s generosity allows us to continue changing veteran lives.”

– Director of Partnerships, K9s For Warriors

NORTH SHORE ANIMAL LEAGUE AMERICA

“The Alonso Foundation’s support helps sustain our no-kill mission to Rescue, Nurture, Adopt, and Educate. In addition to the financial contribution, your personal school visit and time in the press room for the check presentation made indelible marks for a new generation of animal adopters and advocates. Your visit to Abraham Lincoln High School was truly a special experience for all. The students were thrilled that you value their efforts and passion. While your surprise visit would have been enough, the tee shirts, player cards, and game tickets you gave the students added to your positive impact on their lives. Sharing heartfelt experiences and advice showed the depth of your commitment and that you bring your foundation’s mission to life. Meeting their School Dog, Nina, and signing her vest was a bonus! The photos taken that day will be an ongoing reminder of your recognition of their leadership and activities to save homeless animals.

Your donation will provide funding for a unique Humane Relocation Rescue involving students from two states. We are identifying the most appropriate animal shelter and school in the Tampa area to arrange the rescue of homeless dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens from overcrowded situations. The Florida-based students will assist in the preparation of the animals. Students from Abraham Lincoln High School will help offload and provide care for the rescued animals when they reach our campus. Students in two schools from different states will make a real-life impact on homeless animals because of your contribution.”

- VP, Strategic Development Partnerships, North Shore Animal League

Since 1944, North Shore Animal League America has been saving the lives of defenseless dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens — over 1,100,000 to date. Our mission is to Rescue. Nurture. Adopt. Educate. We envision a future in which all companion animals find responsible, loving homes where they are free from abuse, hunger, fear, and loneliness and receive the care and respect they deserve. We value the inherent worth of all companion animals, the principles and goals of the no- kill movement, which we’ve pioneered since our founding in 1944, the richness and complexity of the human-animal bond and the power of humane education, which is the heart of our Mutt-i-grees Curriculum.

TUESDAY’S CHILDREN

“We are extremely thankful for Pete and Haley’s incredible generosity and numerous gifts in partnership. Their support has gone a long way in providing us the tools and resources necessary to develop and provide vital peer to peer programs for hundreds of 9/11 and Gold Star military families. This is a relationship we hold near and dear.” - Tuesday’s Children staff member

“The Alonso Foundation’s funding contributed to our strategic, nationwide expansion to meet the needs of more than 37,000 families nationwide who have lost a service member since Tuesday, September 11th, 2001, and thousands of families in communities recovering from trauma and loss. Specifically your support: bolstered our efforts to expand and enhance our peer support network; Provided youth and families with impactful resilience-building programs and helped build connections and trust with the families we serve as they progress towards long-term healing.”

Our mission is to build and donate specially adapted custom homes nationwide for severely injured post-9/11 Veterans, to enable them to rebuild their lives. Most of these Veterans have sustained injuries including multiple limb amputations, partial or full paralysis, and/or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

These homes restore some of the freedom and independence our Veterans sacrificed while defending our country, and enable them to focus on their family, recovery, and rebuilding their lives. Since its inception in 2004, nearly 90 cents out of every dollar spent has gone directly to our program services for Veterans. HFOT builds these homes where the Veteran chooses to live, and continues its relationship with the Veterans after home delivery to assist them with rebuilding their lives.

THE LOVE OF THE GAME

In addition to the grants listed in earlier pages, several New York-based organizations received grants through our Love of The Game initiative. In addition, each organization received tickets and a meet and greet with Pete. Each organization distributed the tickets to their youth and family beneficiaries, many of whom had never been to a game.

Recipients included

Castle Hill
Cadet Baseball Club
Fort Greene Council Inc.
Junior Achievement League

“We were thrilled to have the opportunity to be highlighted by the Foundation as part of the game on September 30th recognizing the work we do...and we appreciate all the efforts your representatives made to help coordinate our involvement. The JA team had a great time at the game and loved the giveaway bag items as well. “Thank you so much for your generous gift to Junior Achievement of New York. With your support, Junior Achievement is able to help inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy and take control of their futures. Your support will be used to help us provide JA learning experiences that empower young people and help inspire and prepare them for success. Your contribution makes a difference, helping us provide more than 65,000 JA learning experiences each year.”

- Junior Achievement League

2024 & BEYOND

Even though 2023 saw tremendous growth for our young foundation, our goals are set much higher. We are very proud of the impact of our work this past year, but we are focused on creating more in 2024 – more kids influenced to live healthy lives both physically and mentally, more dogs rescued from kill shelters, and more veterans aided to overcome trauma and continue to be valuable members of their families and society.

We expect and aim to donate to more organizations as well as continue our support through previously created initiatives, such as a fund with the City of Tampa to refurbish youth fields in need.

The lasting legacy of The Alonso Foundation is to inspire others to join our mission of helping those in need and we are grateful to our donors and partners that act alongside us as leaders in the community. 2024 will be a year of increased impact, made possible by the togetherness we had always hoped to initiate.