BREAKING NEWS : Baltimore Orioles Former superstar Jim Palmer Donates Entire $12.9 Million Bonus and Sponsorship Earnings to Homeless Shelter Initiative to Help Fund 150 Units Housing with 300 Shelter Beds… “I’ve seen the effects of homelessness firsthand growing up, and I knew… Read more

BREAKING NEWS
Baltimore Orioles Legend Jim Palmer Donates Entire $12.9 Million in Bonuses and Sponsorships to Homeless Shelter Initiative, Funding 150 Housing Units and 300 Shelter Beds

In150 an extraordinary act of generosity and compassion, Hall of Fame pitcher and Baltimore Orioles legend Jim Palmer has announced he is donating his entire $12.9 million in recent bonus and sponsorship earnings to fund a major homelessness initiative in Baltimore.

The donation will directly support the construction of 150 permanent supportive housing units and 300 emergency shelter beds, dramatically expanding the city’s capacity to provide safe shelter and long-term solutions for people experiencing homelessness.

“I’ve seen the effects of homelessness firsthand growing up, and I knew I had to do something real, something lasting,” Palmer said in an emotional press conference Tuesday morning. “This is personal. No one should be sleeping on the street in a city we all love.”

The initiative, known as the “Home Team Baltimore Project”, will be developed in partnership with the Maryland Housing Trust, the Baltimore City Housing Authority, and several nonprofit partners. According to city officials, this will be one of the largest private contributions to a homelessness initiative in Baltimore’s history.

Palmer’s donation stems from recent earnings tied to retrospective endorsements and lifetime achievement awards from sports brands and media appearances. Rather than keeping the funds, he decided to turn them into a force for good.

“Jim Palmer may be a baseball legend, but today he became something even bigger — a civic hero,” said Mayor Brandon Scott. “This initiative will change lives and set an example for what athletes and public figures can do with their platforms.”

Construction of the new shelter and housing units is set to begin this fall, with full completion projected by mid-2026. The site will include mental health resources, addiction treatment support, and employment assistance programs aimed at helping residents transition into stable, independent living.

Palmer, who grew up facing family instability and later overcame numerous personal challenges during his career, has long been involved in charitable causes, but this marks the most significant philanthropic gesture of his life.

When asked what inspired the gift, Palmer reflected:

“I made a career throwing strikes, but this… this is the most important pitch I’ve ever made.”