Ken Kendrick Donates Entire $18.9 Million Earnings to Build Homeless Shelter Princeton, United States to Help Fund 150 Units Housing with 300 Shelter Beds… “I’ve Seen the Effects of Homelessness Firsthand Growing up, and I Knew if I Ever Had the Means, I’d Give Back in a Meaningful Way,” He Said in a Press Conference. “No one Deserves to…

In a bold and compassionate move, Ken Kendrick, co-owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks and prominent philanthropist, has donated the entirety of his $18.9 million in recent earnings to build a new state-of-the-art homeless shelter in Princeton, New Jersey. The initiative will support the development of 150 permanent housing units and 300 shelter beds—marking one of the largest single private donations for homelessness relief in the region’s history.

The project, named The Kendrick Hope Center, aims to provide not only emergency shelter but also long-term stability, rehabilitation, and community reintegration services to hundreds of individuals and families struggling with homelessness. The center is expected to break ground in early 2026, with construction projected to be completed within 18 months.

A Mission Rooted in Personal Experience

In a press conference held Tuesday morning at the Princeton Public Library, Kendrick shared the deeply personal motivations behind his decision.

“I’ve seen the effects of homelessness firsthand growing up, and I knew if I ever had the means, I’d give back in a meaningful way,” Kendrick said, his voice trembling slightly. “No one deserves to sleep on the streets or be without a place to call home.”

Born in Princeton in 1943, Kendrick recalled the economic struggles his family faced during his childhood and the visible suffering of unhoused individuals in his community. Those early experiences, he said, have remained with him throughout his life and career.

Though known primarily for his involvement in professional baseball and business ventures, Kendrick has quietly supported numerous philanthropic causes over the years. This latest donation, however, is his most significant—and most public—gesture to date.

A Vision for Change

The Kendrick Hope Center will be built on a city-owned lot on the south end of Princeton, an area selected for its accessibility to public transportation, medical services, and community resources. The center will offer:

• 150 Permanent Supportive Housing Units, designed for individuals and families transitioning out of homelessness.

• 300 Emergency Shelter Beds, with daily access to food, showers, and case management.

• On-Site Support Services, including job training, mental health counseling, addiction recovery programs, and childcare.

• Community Kitchen and Resource Hub, open to both residents and local neighbors in need.

City officials have lauded Kendrick’s donation as transformative. Mayor Mark Freda called it “a gift not only to the unhoused, but to the entire Princeton community.”

“This donation demonstrates the profound impact private citizens can have when they use their wealth for the public good,” Freda said. “Mr. Kendrick is helping us reimagine what compassionate, effective support for the homeless can look like.”

A Model for Others?

Kendrick’s donation is already generating attention from national media and philanthropic circles. Experts in housing policy suggest that his approach—funding both temporary and long-term solutions in one project—could serve as a model for other cities struggling with homelessness.

“It’s rare to see a donation of this magnitude go directly into bricks-and-mortar housing, especially with such a well-integrated service model,” said Dr. Laura McNeil, a housing economist at Rutgers University. “This could be a blueprint for how cities address homelessness more holistically.”

Kendrick made it clear that his gesture is not meant to seek acclaim but to inspire others.

“I’m not interested in legacy or recognition,” he said. “I just want people to know that if you have the power to help, even a little, you can change lives.”

Looking Ahead

With permits secured and planning underway, The Kendrick Hope Center is expected to start accepting residents in late 2027. The project will be administered in partnership with several local non-profits, including the Princeton Coalition for Housing Equity and Bridgeway Behavioral Health Services.

For the residents who will one day call the center home, Kendrick’s generosity may mean the difference between despair and a new beginning.

“This is what hope looks like,” said Alicia Ramos, a formerly unhoused Princeton resident and current advocate. “This is what community looks like.”

Kendrick, now 82, closed the press conference with a message of humility and resolve: “We are all only as strong as our most vulnerable. This is not a handout—it’s a hand up. And I hope it’s just the beginning.”