Yankees star Carlos Rodón and his wife help families afford IVF

A Night of Hope in Brooklyn

New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón and his wife, Ashley Rodón, hosted their third annual Willow Gala on Monday night at Skylight at The Refinery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The event raised more than $1 million for families dealing with infertility and pregnancy loss, according to both Newsweek and the New York Post.

Multiple of Rodón’s Yankees teammates attended the event, as reported by Newsweek. The evening celebrated the progress of the couple’s foundation and the families they have helped through their Willow Grant program.

The Rodóns' efforts have now helped dozens of families afford fertility treatments. Newsweek reports that, across the last three years, they have assisted 59 families, while the New York Post puts the figure at 57. Both outlets agree that three babies have been born as a result of their work, with 14 more expected.

A Personal Mission

The cause is deeply personal for the Rodóns. Before the birth of their daughter Willow in 2020, the couple experienced two miscarriages, a journey they have spoken about openly.

“It’s not talked about enough,” Carlos told the New York Post. “You don’t realize, especially at a young age, how many people struggled with infertility. You don’t understand how hard it is to make a child.”

Those experiences motivated them to create The Carlos Rodón Foundation and the annual Willow Gala, according to Newsweek. The foundation provides grants of up to $10,000 to help cover medical care, including IVF and other family-building costs, as detailed by the New York Post.

Ashley Rodón highlighted the ongoing challenges many face with insurance coverage.

“For some reason we are still battling with insurance as an elective thing, and it’s not an elective thing to be struggling with infertility,” she told the Post.

Carlos echoed the sentiment: “You think it’s easy to make a baby because that’s what we’re taught.”

Helping Families Build Families

The gala featured special appearances by families who have directly benefited from the Willow Grant. The first Willow grant baby, Stetson, attended the event with his parents, Kaila and Christian, according to the New York Post. The third Willow grant baby, Cayson, was born to friends of the Rodóns, Taylor and Travis. Currently, 34 Willow Grant families are in treatment, the Post reported.

The high cost of fertility care remains a significant barrier for many. A single cycle of fertility treatments in the US can cost as much as $30,000, and coverage remains limited in both private insurance and Medicaid, according to the New York Post.

Ashley emphasized the importance of proactive reproductive health care.

“Being proactive instead of reactive is really the key,” she said. “The same way you take care of a lot of other parts of your body, your reproductive health is important if you want to be in control of your choices.”

The Rodóns' work continues to shed light on the often-hidden struggles of infertility, offering both financial support and hope to families navigating the journey.