Toronto, July 2025 — A gray van pulled up quietly in front of the HopeHome homeless shelter on Tuesday morning. No reporters. No flashbulbs. Just a few volunteers and… Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
All $3.2 million in bonuses from Guerrero Jr.’s recent sponsorship deal went directly to the emergency shelter fund, according to the center’s director. The massive donation will help build 50 emergency housing units, add more than 100 winter shelter beds, and create a recovery gym for homeless survivors of abuse.
“I didn’t grow up rich. I know what it’s like to go to bed knowing you don’t have a place to go tomorrow,” Guerrero Jr. said during a closed-door meeting with the center’s staff. “If I can use my voice and my money to give someone a roof over their head — that’s not charity. That’s service.”
No social media posts. No press releases. The move was only discovered when an employee accidentally posted a photo of Guerrero Jr. pushing a cart full of blankets, water, and personal items to Facebook — with the caption: “He said no pictures. But I couldn’t help but share this beauty with the world.”
The photo immediately went viral, garnering hundreds of thousands of shares. Many players, including Bo Bichette, Marcus Semien and even the legendary Albert Pujols, have spoken out to praise Guerrero Jr.’s actions as “a lesson in life” for all.
Despite his reputation for hitting heavy home runs, Guerrero Jr. often chooses to stay humble off the field. This is not the first time he has gotten involved in community projects. Previously, he quietly sponsored tuition for 27 stateless immigrant children, and participated in food distribution in the Dominican Republic during the COVID pandemic.
“I don’t want my name on the plaque,” he said. “I just want to see their smiles when they are called residents, not homeless.”
If you’re looking for a reason to believe in sports, in humanity – perhaps today, that reason is Vladimir Guerrero Jr.