OriolesREACH and Baltimore City Schools continue long-standing partnership with series of events
Continuing their ongoing partnership, OriolesREACH and Baltimore City Schools have planned a series of activities in the coming weeks, including hosting over 7,000 students as part of Baltimore City Schools Night at Oriole Park this Monday, May 12, and player appearances at a city school.
Additionally, to help encourage regular school attendance, the Orioles are providing a fully-catered party suite for Monday's game to two schools that showed the greatest reduction in chronic absence rates this year compared to last. The Historic Samuel Coleridge Taylor and Carver Vo-Tech High Schools will send 75 students to enjoy Monday's game from a suite on the Club Level.
In pre-game ceremonies on Monday, Baltimore City Teacher of the Year ELIZABETH BARLETTA, a 5th grade science teacher at Barclay Elementary/Middle School, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch, accompanied by City Schools Teacher of the Year finalists. The finalists will enjoy that night's game from a private suite courtesy of NICK and CHRISTINA MARKAKIS.
The National Anthem will be performed by the Principal of Mount Royal Elementary Middle School, JOB GROTSKY, and the Edmonson Westside High School Air Force Junior ROTC Color Guard will present the colors before the game.
Also on May 12, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., MIGUEL GONZALEZ and JONATHAN SCHOOP will visit 200 middle school students in grades 6, 7, and 8, from Highlandtown Elementary/Middle School #237. The players will speak to the students about the importance of attendance, along with their personal stories of diversity and becoming bilingual. This event is open to the media. Highlandtown Elementary/Middle School is located at 231 S. Eaton Street in Baltimore.
This past Saturday, Oriole Park at Camden Yards hosted a game between two of the best Baltimore City Public High School teams: the Academy for College and Career Exploration (ACCE) and Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (Poly). Poly went on to win the game, 8-7 in extra innings. Poly will be recognized on the field in a pre-game ceremony on May 13 as the win helped them advance to become Baltimore City Champions.
SPECIAL CEREMONIES AND INITIATIVES
WINNER OF MLB'S HONORARY BAT GIRL CONTEST
The Orioles, Major League Baseball, and Susan G. Komen for the Cure have announced the winner of the Honorary Bat Girl contest, a campaign to recognize incredible MLB fans who are going to bat against breast cancer in their daily lives. The winner of the contest for the Orioles is DEBRA NELSON, of Baltimore, MD. On Sunday, May 11, Nelson will be honored during an on-field ceremony, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch, and will receive pink MLB merchandise and tickets to the game. Nelson, a Diabetes Nurse Educator at the University of Maryland, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 and resides in Baltimore with her husband, David, and son, Brian. Nelson is a lifetime fan of baseball and often frequents Oriole Park. She will be featured in "The Cure," a documentary that chronicles her breast cancer journey and her selection as a model in a fashion show called "Steps for a Cure."
The Orioles donated 150 tickets to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Maryland Affiliate for survivors, volunteers and top supporters to attend the game on May 11. Members from Susan G. Komen Maryland Affiliate will also be at the Community Booth located by Gate D, and will host an auction with pink commemorative items signed by NICK MARKAKIS and ADAM JONES.
The Honorary Bat Girl contest was developed to raise additional awareness and support for the annual Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer program, a joint program between MLB and Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world's largest breast cancer organization.
HONORING THE DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR
On Tuesday, May 13, the Orioles will honor the dedicated men and women of The Downtown Partnership's operations teams. Each year, members of these teams make significant contributions to the Baltimore community. Downtown Baltimore Guides assist more than 300,000 people, Clean Sweep Ambassadors remove more than 1,100 tons of trash from downtown streets and alleys, and Park Stewards provide and maintain downtown green spaces. On Tuesday, the Orioles will recognize three members of The Downtown Partnership who were recently honored as Employees of the Year for their outstanding performance: Baltimore Guide STEPHEN WHEELER, Clean Sweep Ambassador MIKE MOORE, and Park Steward CHAZ SEWELL-BEY. The Orioles have also donated 250 tickets to The Downtown Partnership for Tuesday night's game against the Detroit Tigers.
BREAKING BARRIERS: IN SPORTS, IN LIFE CEREMONY
The Orioles will host a pre-game ceremony on May 13 in honor of Breaking Barriers: In Sports, In Life First Prize winner and eighth grade student, RUTH MURDOCH of Sudlersville, MD. The on-field recognition will include SHARON ROBINSON, daughter of Jackie Robinson, author and Educational Programming Consultant for Major League Baseball. Following the ceremony, Murdoch will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Earlier Tuesday, Sharon Robinson will also pay a visit to Murdoch and her peers at Sudlersville Middle School. Ruth, whose essay details her experience overcoming wearing a brace to help with scoliosis, will have the opportunity to meet Robinson, who will also speak to her classmates about her father, late Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson, as it relates to the Breaking Barriers: In Sports, In Life program.
The Breaking Barriers essay contest asks students in grades four through nine to submit an essay about barriers or obstacles they have faced or are still facing in their lives, and how they overcame these obstacles using the values demonstrated by Jackie Robinson: commitment, citizenship, courage, determination, excellence, justice, persistence, teamwork and integrity. For additional information on Breaking Barriers, please visit mlbcommunity.org/breakingbarriers.
IN THE COMMUNITY
FORT MEADE YOUTH CLINIC
On Saturday, May 10, the Orioles will conduct a clinic for 100 Fort Meade Little Leaguers. DARREN O'DAY and CHRIS TILLMAN , with Orioles third base coach BOBBY DICKERSON, and former Oriole AL BUMBRY will help teach baseball with the support of Fort Meade Little League coaches. Four stations throughout the clinic will highlight pitching, fielding, baserunning and hitting. In addition to training, each child will enjoy refreshments provided by the Mobile USO. The Orioles will give each participant an Orioles hat and T-shirt, and the club has also donated tickets to clinic participants for a future Orioles game. This event is open to media coverage. Media must RSVP to attend; please contact the Fort Meade Public Affairs Office at (301) 677-5592/1465.
NEGRO LEAGUE MUSEUM ALUMNI AUTOGRAPH SIGNING
Former Orioles KEN DIXON, NATE SNELL, and FRED VALENTINE will sign autographs at the Hubert V. Simmons Negro League Museum as part of Maryland's annual Day of Honors celebration on Saturday, May 10 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at The Forum Caterers located at 4210 Primrose Avenue in Baltimore. The event honors legends in Negro League baseball and supporters in the community and benefits the museum, located at the Owings Mills branch of the Baltimore City Library. For ticket information fans should call 410-597-9797.
AT THE BALLPARK
SCOUT NIGHT
On Saturday, May 10, over 1,600 Baltimore area Boy Scouts will attend the Orioles game against the Houston Astros. The Orioles will honor the top sellers in the Boy Scouts' popcorn selling fundraiser with the opportunity to watch batting practice from the field, presentation of the lineup card, Orioles Heavy Hitter award, and the opportunity to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. The top two sellers will enjoy an inning of the game from the grounds crew area, and all participants will receive a special Oriole Park at Camden Yards scout badge. Scouts have been selling their popcorn as part of the fundraiser since last summer.
LITTLE LEAGUE DAY #2
On Sunday, May 11, approximately 2,300 pre-registered youth baseball players will participate in a pre-game parade around the warning track and be greeted by Orioles players as they walk by the dugout. Teams, dressed in their uniforms, will carry banners and wave to their family members as they round the field. This is the second of three Little League Days to be held at the ballpark.
FIELD TRIP DAY
On Wednesday, May 14, OriolesREACH, in partnership with MASN and WJZ TV, will host the seventh annual Field Trip Day when the Orioles take on the Detroit Tigers. Over 12,000 students from local schools will be at Oriole Park at Camden Yards to learn about the weather from WJZ TV'S First Warning Weather Team of BOB TURK, CHELSEA INGRAM and TIM WILLIAMS. Orioles Head Groundskeeper NICOLE McFADYEN will speak to the students as well.
ALUMNI AUTOGRAPH SERIES
Every Monday and Thursday home game, former Orioles players will sign autographs on Eutaw Street as part of the Orioles Alumni Autograph series from 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. On Monday, May 12, AL BUMBRY, JOE ORSULAK, and FRED VALENTINE will greet fans and sign autographs.
ORIOLES MILITARY APPRECIATION PROGRAM
As part of the Orioles' Military Appreciation Program, presented by GEICO, the Orioles and OriolesREACH donate a catered private suite at each Sunday home game at Oriole Park to servicemen and women. This Sunday, May 11, military members from Operation Homefront will enjoy the game vs. the Houston Astros from a catered suite, have a meet-and-greet with TOMMY HUNTER and DARREN O'DAY, and receive a player T-shirt.
STEAL SECOND BASE PRESENTED BY ESSKAY
The Orioles will again feature the Steal Second Base contest for every Sunday home game this season. Presented by ESSKAY, the Steal Second Base contest allows a young fan to participate in a timed race from the grounds crew area in center field to retrieve second base. Fans can sign up for the opportunity at the ballpark at any Fan Assistance Center. The lucky winner will receive four tickets to that day's game, gift certificates to use inside the park, an Orioles jersey and an Orioles prize pack. The contestants will also get to keep the authentic base that they steal. This Sunday's winner is NATALIE BROADWAY, a 14-year old from Magnoli, DE.
COMMUNITY BOOTH
During each home game the Orioles provide a community booth for charitable, non-profit organizations to distribute information, sell raffle tickets, register participants or conduct health care screenings for Orioles fans. The following groups will be at the community booth, located near Gate D, during this homestand:
DATE ORGANIZATION
Fri, May 9
- Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League
Sat, May 10
- Boy Scouts
Sun, May 11
- Susan G. Komen Maryland Affiliate
Mon, May 12
- Reach Our Rescue and Resources
Tues, May 13
- Dogs on Deployment
Wed, May 14
- Icing Smiles, Inc.
ORIOLES REACH GAMEDAY EXPERIENCE PROGRAM
This season, OriolesREACH will again host thousands of underprivileged youth as part of the Gameday Experience Program. Group members receive game tickets, concessions vouchers, an Orioles T-shirt, a cap and transportation to and from the game. Tickets are provided courtesy of Orioles players. Players participating in the program this year include WEI-YIN CHEN, CHRIS DAVIS, J.J. HARDY,TOMMY HUNTER, ADAM JONES, NICK MARKAKIS, BRIAN MATUSZ, TROY PATTON, CHRIS TILLMAN, and MATT WIETERS. The following organizations will attend games at Oriole Park during this homestand, courtesy of these Orioles players:
DATE ORGANIZATION SIZE PLAYER SPONSOR
Fri, May 9
- Educational Talent Search Program 150 Adam Jones
Sat, May 10
- Fort Washington Elementary School 150 J.J. Hardy
Sun, May 11
- Hampstead Hill Academy 150 Chris Tillman
Mon, May 12
- Mt. Royal Elementary School 150 Matt Wieters
Tue, May 13
- Chadwick Elementary 150 Tommy Hunter
Wed, May 14
- Belle Grove Elementary 150 Brian Matusz
GIVEAWAYS AND TICKET OFFERS
DATE ITEM/OFFER SPONSOR ELIGIBILITY
Fri, May 9
- AT&T Student Night AT&T Any student with a school I.D.
Sun, May 11 -
- Mother's Day Cap First 20,000 women 18 & over
- Junior Orioles Dugout Club Day Dugout Club members
- Little League Day #2 Pre-registered Little Leaguers
Tue, May 13
- Orioles "Cruuuuuz" T-shirt All Fans
- Ollie's Bargain Night Ollie's Bargain Outlet All Fans
Wed, May 14
- Field Trip Day MASN & WJZ-TV Pre-registered school groups