HOUSTON — When Maria and Josh Hader decided to make Houston their full-time home following Josh’s signing with the Astros prior to the 2024 season, the couple knew they wanted to make a positive difference in the lives of young people in their new community.
The Haders have been giving back ever since in a variety of ways, including their annual holiday toy drive. The Haders played host to their second annual Hader’s Heart Toy Drive outside Daikin Park on Monday, taking donations of new and unwrapped toys. Josh and Maria were there to greet those who made donations and spread some holiday cheer.
“We’re trying to gather up as many gifts as we can for the kids to be able to give them happiness and smiles to their faces,” Hader said. “That’s what the season is about, is giving.”
During the 2024 season, Hader’s Heart launched a partnership with BEAR, a monthly initiative where participants enjoy an Astros game from a suite and get to be on the field for batting practice and meet Hader and his teammates.
Hader’s Heart rotates between hosting one of the two organizations each month: BEAR works with at-risk and CPS-involved children and their caretakers in the greater Houston area, and Covenant House works with young adults who have aged out of the foster care system and are overlooked and at risk of homelessness.
“Every year, we are serving over 30,000 at-risk and CPS-involved children in the Houston area with new Christmas toys, thanks to people like Josh and Maria Hader and the Astros Foundation,” said Katie Magee, director of development and events for BEAR. “To host drives like this, it helps us reach our goal every year.”
Hader’s desire to help children in need began when he was a child himself. His grandparents hosted foster kids in their home in Delaware, and Hader would hang out with the children when he visited his grandparents on the weekends from his home in Maryland. Hader was struck by how many children needed help in the community and has carried that in his mind since.
“It has been really nice to get to know these kids personally, and I enjoy the time with them,” said Hader.
One of Hader’s missions as a Major Leaguer has been to help underserved children and young adults through his charity work. Since signing with the Astros in January 2024, Hader has launched into community work and, alongside Maria, is making his mark in the greater Houston community.
Hader was the Astros’ 2025 nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award — considered baseball’s most prestigious individual honor for Major Leaguers — which annually recognizes the MLB player who best represents the game through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions both on and off the field.
“Being a young adult, especially that foster care only goes to 18, so once they’re out of that, they don’t really have an outlet, and if they don’t get the opportunities to get the tools to go out on their own, they’re kind of stuck,” Hader said. “Covenant House was just a huge opportunity for us to shine a light on what they’re doing for these kids or young adults and just giving them the opportunity to better their lives in any way.”
