The Crew Brews A Difference

Now that Opening Day is officially in the books, it’s time to recognize both the new and continuing members of our Brew Crew for the 2021 season. After I was very fortunate enough to attend Opening Day of the Milwaukee Brewers against the Minnesota Twins, I felt the inspiration to delve deep into who these athletes truly are. We know very well who Christian Yelich, Keston Hiura, Lorenzo Cain and Josh Hader are on the field. What we see less is the difference that these guys make outside the game of baseball and towards everyday people like you and me. The past year has offered more opportunities for change and inspiration than most seasons. With so much going on in the world, these guys have made this year a little bit better in more ways than just with a bat and glove. 

Infielder and outfielder, Daniel Robertson, had two aspirations in his life. The first was to make a difference in the lives of families similar to his own and the second was to make it to Major League Baseball. He began the Daniel Robertson Family Foundation in 2017 after his father died of lung cancer four years earlier. Every year since, the Robertsons hold Fan Fest in their California hometown to sell famous baseball memorabilia and family visits with famous athletes. The intent behind this foundation is to financially help families whose key caretaker is undergoing treatment for cancer or any other sickness. Robertson has been joined by multiple colleagues in the baseball world, such as current teammate and fellow Brewer, Josh Hader. 

By partnering with Custom Ink in a fundraiser, Keston Hiura has not only gotten the community excited for when life will go back to normal, but he has also done so while supporting local Milwaukee restaurants. He created a Milwaukee Brewers and Keston Hiura design for t-shirts and sweatshirts whose cost is donated to companies who have seen a decline in business within the past year. So far, over $250,000 has been raised for this great cause. From the money he raised, Keston bought gift cards from numerous different small businesses and restaurants in the area and sent them to frontline workers at Saint Luke’s Hospital in Milwaukee.

In 2018, after recent years of disasters in California, California Strong became a well-known name throughout the county. As a native, Christian Yelich was one of the few athletes who helped found the organization and to spread awareness of the state’s tragedies such as wildfires and mudslides. This community also created a COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund in order to help those heavily impacted by the pandemic.  

While the 2020 baseball season was put on hold due to health regulations and restrictions, Brewers Christian Yelich and Ryan Braun teamed up to support local Milwaukee health care heroes. For Easter, Yelich and Braun made it possible for over 1,000 meals to be brought home to health care workers and their families for the holiday. Not only did this contribution create waves of hope in the community during a difficult time, but it inspired other local businesses to do the same. These included Associated Bank, Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co. and American Family Insurance who promised to continue the support that Yelich and Braun initiated.  

There’s almost nothing like the special feeling you get at the Brewers’ home field—still Miller Park in my eyes—when you and everyone around you shares that same passion for the game. Almost. However, when it comes to making a difference in others’ lives during a hard time, it brings out the same passionate and close-knit side of the Brewers and their community. 

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