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Yankees honor Long Island grandma for nonprofit work

On Monday, the Yankees honored Joan Hyland, of Malverne, and her nonprofit "Love, Nana" company which creates gift bundles of baby clothes for families in need on Long Island and in New York City. Credit: Ed Quinn, New York Yankees

In a room full of Yankees stars Monday afternoon, no one shined brighter than Joan Hyland.

To kick off the 16th edition of HOPE Week, the Yankees honored Hyland, 87, of Malverne, and her nonprofit company, “Love, Nana,” which creates gift bundles of baby clothes for families in need on Long Island and in New York City.

HOPE stands for Helping Others Persevere & Excel.

The Yankees also honored the Backyard Players & Friends, a nonprofit started by Hyland’s daughters that helps her with the bundles and offers community-based programs for teens and young adults with intellectual disabilities or autism.

Players and coaches surprised Hyland in a Yankee Stadium suite and joined her, her family and the Backyard Players & Friends in creating bundles hours before Monday night’s series opener against the Angels.

“This couldn't be better,” Hyland said. “Every player that I met is unbelievable. They're like regular guys. They all have a grandmother or a Nana that they respect. I just feel very respected, very honored, very everything for somebody my age — because now they all know how old I am because they always publicize my age.

“But anyway, I’m happy for where I am today. It’s a beautiful day.”

Aaron Judge, Paul Goldschmidt, Luke Weaver, Ryan Yarbrough, Fernando Cruz, Jonathan Loaisiga and Ian Hamilton were in attendance, as well as first base coach Travis Chapman, third base coach Luis Rojas, bullpen coach Mike Harkey and assistant pitching coach Preston Claiborne.

Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, left, Joan Hyland, center, and Yankees...

Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, left, Joan Hyland, center, and Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt help assemble care packages on Monday as part of HOPE Week at Yankee Stadium. Credit: Ed Quinn

A $10,000 check was donated to Love, Nana — named after Hyland’s signoff she uses on birthday cards to her grandchildren — on behalf of the Steinbrenner family.

Hyland and her family spent the day at the Stadium and were guests of the Yankees for batting practice.

Love, Nana was founded in Hyland’s basement in the spring of 2020 after one of her grandsons, Lynbrook Police Officer Ryan White, found out a local coffee shop worker was expecting his first child and needed baby clothes.

Hyland gathered baby clothes that one of her great-grandchildren had outgrown, and the operation was off from there. They moved to a Rockville Centre storefront in 2022.

“Just the thought of somebody not having anything, which I was able to provide for my family all those years, but now I've got somebody that needs something,” Hyland said. “Well, I can give them the best I've got, which I did, and that's how it all started.”

Love, Nana donates approximately 2,000 bundles each year and has surpassed over 12,000 bundles total.

There were three stations in the suite: sort and fold at Station 1, building bundles at Station 2 and “Nana’s final touch” at Station 3.

At the second station, Hyland could be found doing what she always does — just with different company as she sat across from Judge and next to Goldschmidt.

“I was just blown away, just hearing about her family trying to find her in her house, and she's got bags everywhere, clothes everywhere,” Judge said. “It just speaks volumes to the type of person she is, and the love and care she has in her heart. She doesn't know any of the families these packages are going to, but she knows she's making a difference just with each package, each pants or shirt she's folding and putting in there.”

Said Goldschmidt: “She’s amazing. That was awesome to get to meet her and spend some time here, get to help them out. Hear their amazing story, how many countless families they’re helping. It’s so motivational and such a great thing to be a part of.”

Hyland — a retired registered nurse who has seven children, 28 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren — was introduced by her daughter Ellen White, one of the founders of Backyard Players & Friends, to start the festivities.

White thanked the Yankees, and Hyland –—who was clearly touched by the entire day — had to sneak a joke in: “It’s going to be good for business.”

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