In an extraordinary act of generosity, San Diego Padres superstar Fernando Tatis Jr. has invested his entire 2025 salary and bonus—approximately $4.6 million—into transforming three residential properties into shelters for homeless youth in the San Diego area.
The ambitious project, which Tatis has been quietly working on for months, will provide long-term housing, support services, and job training for vulnerable young people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The shelters, set to open by the end of the year, are being developed in partnership with several local nonprofits and housing advocates.
“This is bigger than baseball,” Tatis said in a brief statement. “I’ve been blessed with so much, and I want to use that to give kids hope, opportunity, and a safe place to grow.”
The three properties, located in different neighborhoods across San Diego County, will each be renovated to accommodate between 10 and 15 residents. In addition to shelter, they’ll offer mental health resources, career coaching, education support, and mentorship programs.
Community leaders and fans alike are praising Tatis’s decision, calling it a “game-changer” for the city’s homelessness crisis.
“This is one of the most powerful examples of athlete activism we’ve ever seen,” said Maria Reynolds, director of the Youth Housing Coalition of San Diego. “Fernando Tatis Jr. is stepping up in a way that will change lives.”
The Padres organization has expressed full support for Tatis’s initiative, with team officials hinting that further collaborations on community projects may be on the horizon.
Tatis, just 26 years old, is already known for his electric play on the field—but with this move, he’s showing just how impactful he can be off
of it as well.
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