Yankee Stadium’s most inspiring moment this week didn’t involve home runs or strikeouts. Instead, an 87-year-old retired nurse from Long Island captured the spotlight through her extraordinary dedication to helping families in need.
Joan Hyland, who founded the nonprofit Love, Nana, received recognition from the New York Yankees during their 16th annual HOPE Week celebration. The initiative honors individuals making remarkable community contributions. For Hyland, whose organization started in her basement during the pandemic, the acknowledgment represented both validation and motivation to continue her mission of “helping somebody.”
Single act of kindness sparks nonprofit movement
Hyland’s charitable work began with one thoughtful gesture. During spring 2020, her grandson, Lynbrook Police Officer Ryan White, mentioned a coffee shop employee expecting his first child. Joan immediately gathered outgrown baby clothes from her great-grandchild’s collection.
“She got the baby clothes, the onesies, and socks, washed them, and folded them nice,” White recalled. “She included a rattle, a picture book, and shoes. The presentation was beautiful.”
That initial bundle launched something much larger. Working from her Malverne home, Hyland started creating additional packages. Each bundle received careful attention with color coordination and pristine folding to resemble personal gifts. She named the initiative Love, Nana, referencing her signature on family birthday cards.
The program’s growth forced a 2022 relocation from her basement to a Rockville Centre storefront. By 2025, the nonprofit distributes nearly 2,000 bundles annually throughout Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, and New York City.
About Joan Hyland
- Name: Joan Hyland, aka “Nana”
- Age: 87
- Background: Retired registered nurse
- Early Life & Family Background
Birth & Parents: Joan Hyland was born in Malverne, Nassau County, New York and is the daughter of James and Gertrude Anna Bolster. - Mother’s Influence: Her mother, G. Vivian Hyland (nee Bolster), was born in October 1923 in New York City during the Roaring Twenties. She later married James F. Hyland during World War II. G. Vivian passed away in April 2013.
- Siblings: Joan grew up with siblings; G. Vivian was noted as one of 13 children, and Joan is survived by two siblings—her sister Rev. Elizabeth Bolster Little and brother Robert Bolster Allenbrandt.
- Family Life & Legacy
Marriage & Children: Joan married and raised a large family—she is a matriarch to seven children, 28 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren, according to MLB’s feature on HOPE Week. - Daughters’ Work: Her daughters founded Backyard Players & Friends, a nonprofit that works closely with Love, Nana, engaging teens and young adults with developmental disabilities or autism in volunteer work.
- Personal & Professional Life
Career: Joan was a registered nurse, a profession she pursued before retiring to focus full-time on Love, Nana. - Home & Location: She initially started Love, Nana from her Malverne basement in 2020 and later moved operations to a rented Rockville Centre storefront as the program grew.
- Founded Love, Nana: 2020, in her basement
- Mission: Deliver newborn and toddler bundles (clothes, books, accessories) that look like gifts
- Annual impact: ~2,000 bundles
- Active regions: Nassau County, Suffolk County, Queens, & NYC-area nonprofits
- Volunteer partner: Backyard Players & Friends—a vocational training nonprofit
Dignity drives every donation decision
Hyland’s approach centers on preserving recipient dignity.
“When you have nothing, you have nothing—and most people don’t know what that’s like,” she said. “I thought if I gave something that looks like a present, the family wouldn’t be insulted by it. Whatever is in that bag is the very best I can put together.”
Every Love, Nana bundle contains carefully selected baby clothing, picture books, blankets, socks, toys, and diapers. Volunteers inspect each item for missing snaps, stains, or faded lettering. This quality control became known as “the Nana test.” Items failing inspection don’t make the cut.
“She sat the volunteers down once and said, ‘We have to go through this again,'” said her daughter Cristine Daly. “Building the bundle is something you need to graduate to.”
Yankees celebration put Hyland in national focus
The Yankees honored Hyland’s efforts with a stadium bundle assembly event featuring players, staff, and volunteers from Backyard Players & Friends. The community program, founded by Hyland’s daughters, serves young adults with developmental disabilities.
“Knowing how much it means to the families, especially those in need… it means the world,” said Aaron Judge during the ceremony.
Hyland threw a ceremonial first pitch and shared her story on the field during the opening day of the Yankees‘ 2025 HOPE Week celebration.
Personal struggles shaped charitable mission
Hyland’s background in Malverne, New York, shaped her compassionate worldview. Born to James and Gertrude Anna Bolster, she grew up in a working-class family that experienced financial hardship.
“I had three siblings, and at times we had to live in different households,” she recalled. “When you grow up struggling, you know you don’t have much. I wanted to give something that didn’t feel like charity.”
Following nursing school, Hyland married and raised seven children. Her family now includes 28 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Despite Love, Nana’s success, Hyland maintained a seven-day work schedule sorting, folding, and packaging clothing until recently. Her children and doctor convinced her to reduce her hours.
“She’ll just keep working,” said her daughter Jennifer Marcellino. “When I go in, I have to make sure she eats.”
Volunteers create widespread impact
Love, Nana operates under the Backyard Players & Friends nonprofit umbrella. Volunteers include Girl Scouts, retirees, and community members like Patti Harmon, a 70-year-old retired nurse who called it a “happy place.”
Corporate partners provide essential support. TJ Maxx and Target donate clearance clothing while Allied Foundation supplies diapers. Book Fairies and Hindi’s Libraries contribute picture books. The organization serves nonprofits including Our Lady of Peace Church, The Bowery Mission, and refugee resettlement programs.
“They are so far from home, and their life has been turned upside down,” said Dorothy Crowley, a social worker assisting Ukrainian refugees. “The bundles make such an impact.”
Small gestures create lasting memories
Hyland measures success through emotional impact rather than distribution numbers.
“I don’t always see the people I help,” she said. “But I know they will be happy with it.”
Her bundles reach teen mothers, homeless families, and immigrants facing difficult transitions. Caseworkers like Kate Landsdorf describe the meaningful effect of Hyland’s personal touch.
“She puts a card in the bundle like you are getting a gift from your nana.”
“It’s special,” Hyland said. “It’s something that will lighten their load just a little bit.”
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