The votes are in, and the announcement has been made: Adam Wainwright of the St. Louis Cardinals is 2020’s Clemente Award winner! The Roberto Clemente Foundation is excited to congratulate one of the most upstanding men in baseball, who now joins one of the sport’s most prestigious lists.

This is the second Clemente Award win for the Cardinals in the last several years, solidifying their position as the club with the most Clemente Award winners. But it’s not about the stats, it’s about the service, and Adam’s track record is stellar. His Big League Impact nonprofit organization, which he founded with his brother Trey in 2013, is committed to the same ideals as Roberto was.

Carrying On the Legacy
One of Adam’s greatest passions is food security, which has been a huge issue this year due to the pandemic. Big League Impact mobilized early and powerfully, teaming up with the Rangers’ Kyle Gibson and country star Garth Brooks to launch the Home Plate Project through Garth’s Teammates for Kids foundation. More than 50 players threw in to raise funds that went towards providing 8 million meals to struggling families. We know that Roberto and Vera are proud of this amazing accomplishment!

Big Impact also coordinates with ballplayers to put on annual fantasy football contests, raising thousands of dollars for a variety of worthy causes. The organizations they’ve partnered with include Food for the Hungry, Operation Food Search, and Water Mission. Funding the construction and operation of Ferrier Village Secondary School in Haiti, they partnered with Water Mission to build a system to provide clean water for the community of children rescued out of trafficking.

A Worldwide Impact
Big League Impact has funded a clean water system in Honduras, as well as an 11-acre farm and clinic devoted to poverty relief in Ethiopia. Adam and his wife, Jenny, have also partnered with Crisis Aid of St. Louis to build housing for sex trafficking victims in that area. At the beginning of the pandemic, the Wainwrights also donated $250,000 towards helping minor league players whose jobs aren’t as secure as his.

As Roberto once said, “We are citizens of a global community who ought to care for one another. We are only strangers when we see the needs of others and do not act.” We think he’d be proud of Adam Wainwright’s accomplishments. For more information about Big Impact and how you can get involved, check out bigleagueimpact.org. Congratulations to Adam, and viva Clemente!