**BREAKING: Freddie Freeman Donates \$12.9 Million to Build Housing for Homeless Families in Orange County**

In an extraordinary act of generosity that is already rippling through Southern California and beyond, Los Angeles Dodgers star first baseman Freddie Freeman has donated his entire \$12.9 million in recent bonus and sponsorship earnings to fund a major new housing initiative for homeless families with children in Orange County, California.

The initiative, launched in partnership with the nonprofit organization Home First Foundation and the Orange County Housing Authority, will directly support the construction of 120 transitional housing units and provide 200 new shelter beds for parents and children experiencing homelessness. The facilities will be located in Santa Ana and Anaheim, areas particularly affected by housing insecurity, and are expected to begin construction within six months.

Freeman announced the donation at a press conference held this morning at the Dodgers’ stadium, standing alongside his wife, Chelsea Freeman, and representatives from several local housing organizations, as well as Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley.

“I grew up in a family that didn’t have much, and I know what it feels like to not know what tomorrow holds,” Freeman said, his voice cracking with emotion. “No child should have to go to sleep without a roof over their head. I’ve been blessed in so many ways, and I wanted to give back in a way that felt real and lasting.”

Freeman’s donation is believed to be one of the largest private gifts in California this year aimed specifically at homelessness among families. While philanthropic contributions from celebrities are not uncommon, the complete redirection of an athlete’s bonus and commercial income toward a single charitable effort—particularly one not connected to his sport—is exceptionally rare.

According to Home First Foundation, Freeman’s \$12.9 million gift will cover the bulk of construction and operational startup costs for two new facilities: the Maximus Transitional Housing Center in Anaheim, named after Freeman’s son, and the Roots & Wings Family Shelter in Santa Ana. Both sites will provide temporary shelter, mental health services, family case management, child care, employment support, and assistance in finding permanent housing.

The Maximus Center will include 80 individual family units—small apartments designed to house parents and children together—and an on-site preschool and after-school center. The Santa Ana site will serve as an emergency shelter with 40 transitional units and 200 beds, allowing for both overnight stays and longer-term placement.

Freeman said the issue of family homelessness became personal for him over the past two years, particularly as he and Chelsea learned more about the state’s worsening housing crisis and connected with families affected through their outreach with CHOC Children’s Hospital, where their son Maximus received care in 2024.

“It changed us,” Chelsea Freeman said at the event. “We started meeting people—moms and dads just like us, except they had lost their homes because of a medical emergency, or a layoff, or domestic violence. And their kids were still trying to go to school while living in cars or shelters. It hit us hard. That could be any one of us.”

According to the Orange County 2025 Point-in-Time Count, there are more than 6,900 people experiencing homelessness in the county, with nearly 1,500 of those being children. Advocacy groups say the number of homeless families has risen steadily since 2020, driven by skyrocketing rent prices, job losses, and a lack of affordable housing inventory.

Freeman’s donation, officials say, comes at a crucial moment. Though Orange County has seen several successful housing-first programs in recent years, the need continues to far outstrip resources. Emergency shelters are frequently over capacity, and many families are placed on long waitlists for housing vouchers or temporary accommodations.

Supervisor Katrina Foley called Freeman’s action “transformational” and urged other community leaders to follow his example—not just with donations, but with compassion and urgency.

“Freddie Freeman didn’t just write a check—he showed us what it means to lead with heart,” Foley said. “This is the kind of bold, humane investment that can change lives and bend the arc of a child’s future toward hope.”

The donation was kept largely under wraps during months of planning. According to sources close to Freeman, he worked quietly with his financial advisors and the Home First Foundation since March, reviewing site plans and personally visiting temporary shelters and family crisis centers in Orange County to understand what resources were most needed.

Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts praised Freeman’s humility and social awareness. “Freddie’s the kind of guy who always asks, ‘How can I help?’ Whether it’s on the field or in the community. But this… this is next level. It’s leadership, it’s love, and it’s an example that will stick with all of us.”

The Dodgers organization has also pledged to match up to \$1 million in additional donations from fans or local businesses to help cover ongoing operational expenses for the two housing sites. The team will host a special “Homers for Homes” charity night at Dodger Stadium next month, with all proceeds from ticket sales donated to the initiative.

Reactions from the sports world have been overwhelmingly positive. Fellow MLB players, including Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani, shared support on social media, with Betts tweeting: “Incredible move by @FreddieFreeman5. This is what using your platform for good really looks like.”

While Freeman has been known for his generosity in the past—donating to youth baseball programs, health organizations, and high schools in the Los Angeles area—this is by far his largest philanthropic undertaking.

Housing experts say the impact could be profound. Dr. Elaine Ramirez, an urban policy specialist at UC Irvine, says transitional housing models, when paired with wraparound services, are highly effective at breaking the cycle of homelessness among families.

“What Freeman is funding is not just a shelter—it’s a system that gives parents the tools to stabilize and move forward,” Ramirez said. “This is a comprehensive approach rooted in dignity and opportunity.”

The new housing centers are expected to begin construction by early 2026, with the Maximus Center aiming for a soft opening by fall of the same year. Once operational, the combined facilities will serve more than 1,000 individuals annually.

At the press conference, Freeman was asked why he chose to donate all of his recent earnings instead of a smaller portion. His answer was simple: “Because they needed it more than I do.”

He continued: “Look, I love this game. Baseball has given me everything. But at the end of the day, I want my kids to look back and say, ‘My dad didn’t just play first base—he helped people.’ That’s the legacy I care about.”

As the crowd of reporters and community members stood in applause, a few families from nearby shelters were brought up to meet Freeman and his wife. One young boy, wearing a Dodgers cap too big for his head, handed Freeman a hand-drawn card that read: “Thank you for helping my mom.”

For a brief moment, the baseball world paused—and saw a different kind of hero, one not defined by RBIs or Gold Gloves, but by generosity and human kindness.

And for hundreds of families in Orange County, the future now holds a little more hope—and a roof overhead.