BOSTON, MA—In the high-stakes world of Major League Baseball, success is usually measured in strikeouts and ERA. But for former Red Sox hurler Nick Pivetta, the 2025 season will be remembered for a victory that happened entirely away from the diamond. Pivetta, along with his parents, has officially announced the founding of the Pivetta Family Youth Shelter Fund, a major philanthropic initiative dedicated to ending the cycle of youth homelessness in the city of Boston.
Despite his recent transition to the San Diego Padres—where he signed a four-year, $55 million deal—Pivetta made it clear that his heart remains tied to the community that supported him for five seasons.
BEYOND THE STADIUM: A FAMILY COMMITMENT
The fund is a deeply personal project for the Pivetta family. Rather than simply lending his name to an existing charity, Nick worked alongside his parents to design a program that addresses the specific “pain” of children and teens who have no place to call home.
The Shelter Focus: The fund will partner with Boston-based organizations like Bridge Over Troubled Waters to provide immediate emergency housing and long-term stabilization for at-risk youth.
Parental Partnership: Nick’s parents have taken an active role in the foundation’s governance, emphasizing that “family stability” is the core mission of their work.
A Legacy of Action: The initiative isn’t just about a one-time check; it includes a “Career Mentorship” component, where Pivetta will leverage his professional network to provide vocational training and job placements for homeless young adults.
THE PIVETTA IMPACT: 2025 BY THE NUMBERS
While Pivetta is finding his footing in the NL West, his “off-field stats” in Boston are setting a new standard for athlete-driven service.
Category
Impact of the Pivetta Fund
The “Win”
Emergency Beds
Funding for 50+ new units
Directly increases Boston’s capacity to house youth overnight.
Education Grants
$250,000 for GED programs
Helps displaced youth finish school and enter the workforce.
Community Service
2025 Shirk Award Nominee
Recognized by peers for his “unrelenting devotion” to city welfare.
Foundation Goal
$1M Endowment
A long-term commitment that will outlast his playing days.
“IT MEANS MORE THAN A WIN”
During the fund’s inaugural gala in the Seaport District, Pivetta was uncharacteristically emotional. He addressed the “performance pressure” that often defines an athlete’s life and contrasted it with the stakes of the streets.
“A bad inning is just a game,” Pivetta told the crowd. “But for a kid in this city with nowhere to sleep, every night is a high-pressure situation. Standing here with my parents to launch this fund… it means more to me than any win I’ll ever get on a mound.”
As Pivetta heads into 2026 with the Padres, he leaves behind a “shelter” in the city he once called home. He didn’t just play for Boston; he listened to it—and in doing so, he has rewritten what it means to be a champion.
