2025 Birdland Community Heroes

Austin Johnstone has been serving the Winfield and Southern Carroll County area for fifteen years as a member of the Winfield Community Volunteer Fire Department. Joining the department in 2010, after graduating from Lycoming College with a degree in Criminal Justice and a minor in Political Science, Austin has served at all levels of rank in both Fire and Emergency Medical Services up through his current role as Chief. Climbing the ladder has been a labor of love for Austin, volunteering between twenty to forty hours per week to the department, handling operational functions for a volunteer department of one hundred members. Responsible for eight apparatus and serving an area of forty-seven square miles and fourteen thousand people, Austin leads the department to ensure that the people of Winfield are safe and supported, often on the worst days of their lives.

A leader by example, Austin is always finding ways to develop his skills and challenge himself. Holding certifications of Fire Officer III, Instructor II, Emergency Medic Technician, Incident Safety Officer, Swift Water Rescue Technician, Public Fire and Life Safety Educator, and others, Austin is a testament to what can be accomplished with hard work and dedication. Despite his rigorous workload, Austin always finds time to grow the next generation of firefighters, frequently mentoring Probationary and Junior members and providing opportunities for growth and success to his Line Officers. Often, you’ll find Austin spending his weekends hosting trainings for both new and experienced department members. When someone needs a hand or has a question, Austin is there, supporting his team and learning right alongside them.

In 2022, Austin became a founding member of Ride for Responders, an annual benefit horse show that raises money and awareness for first responder agencies of central Maryland. To date, Ride for Responders has donated approximately $45,000 to five local first responder agencies. Austin annually undertakes a mile walk in full gear (including boots and SCBA) as a Ride for Responders representative fundraiser in The Great Lisbon Farmers Feed the Hungry Christmas parade.

Austin volunteers as an Advisory Board Member for Carroll County Department of Recreation and Parks, helping to create opportunities for the community among Carroll County’s beautiful natural resources.

Outside of all of his volunteer work, Austin is a beloved uncle, brother, son, grandson, nephew, and dog dad. He competes in open water swims, including The Great Chesapeake Bay Swim, off-roads on his four-wheeler, and watches Orioles baseball.

In honor of Austin’s recognition as a Birdland Community Hero, the Orioles Charitable Foundation will make a donation to the Winfield Community Volunteer Fire Department.

Marques Dent is a graduate of Tennessee State University, where he became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Beta Omicron chapter. Dent has worked the better part of the last 20 years providing resources to children and families. The former US Air Force Captain has coached boys baseball and girls basketball at all levels. Dent has served as the Northwood Baseball League Chairman for the last 10 years. Each year, more than 300 youth from ages 4-18 learn and play baseball at Northwood. Dent provides a well-rounded, complete educational and athletic experience at the Northwood complex located in Northeast Baltimore City. Dent, an IT executive at 5starr Enterprise, helps merge Math Thru Music concepts in Baltimore City Schools' after-school programs and summer camps. He is dedicated to utilizing his diverse talents and skills to prepare the next generation of exceptional leaders.

In honor of Marques' recognition as a Birdland Community Hero, the Orioles Charitable Foundation will donate to the Northwood Baseball League.

The Orioles will recognize Caroline Ray, a bone cancer survivor and senior soccer player at Crofton High School, as their Birdland Community Hero. After getting an MRI on what she thought was a lingering soccer injury, she learned she had grade 3 osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer, in her knee. Ray underwent a 19-hour procedure at Johns Hopkins Children's Center to remove it in August 2023 before officially going into remission last February. Last year, Ray founded the Cards Against Cancer club to make cards, donate toys, and decorate spaces for children undergoing treatment at Johns Hopkins.

The Orioles Charitable Foundation will also make a donation to Just in Power Kids in Caroline’s honor, a non-profit that aims to improve the quality of life of kids and their families who are battling cancer in Maryland.

Kurt Schnitzenbaumer has served as a Prince George’s County Police Officer for 21 years, with more than 15 of those years dedicated to community policing. In 2016, he founded the Prince George’s County Police Athletic League (PAL), a nonprofit organization focused on juvenile crime prevention through mentoring, education, athletics, and recreational activities that build trust and understanding between law enforcement and youth.

Kurt has been instrumental in securing over $3 million in grants for the Prince George’s County Police Department and PAL, directly supporting programs that serve youth and families across the county. One of his proudest achievements was helping bring a Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation “Youth Development Park” to the Prince George’s County Police Services Complex.

Through PAL, Kurt has mentored and coached hundreds of young people in programs such as the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation’s signature initiative, Badges for Baseball. Drawing on his own passion for baseball, he also created the PAL Summer Baseball Camp, which not only teaches the fundamentals of the sport but also instills life skills that extend far beyond the field. Under his leadership, PAL has developed over 15 programs and summer camps, serving more than 800 youth annually.

Kurt also partners with Toys for Tots, where he has overseen the collection of over 100,000 toys, distributed to more than 20,000 children each year. His commitment goes beyond professional duty—he frequently volunteers his personal time to both PAL and Toys for Tots.

Outside of policing, Kurt is a devoted husband of 19 years and proud father of a 16-year-old son. He has also given back to his community through volunteer service, spending 10 years as a soccer coach with the Soccer Association of Columbia and more than 8 years volunteering at Resurrection-St. Paul School. His dedication to family and community reflects the same values of commitment, service, and integrity that define his professional career.

Respected by colleagues and beloved in the community, Kurt continues to serve Prince George’s County with honor, integrity, and a steadfast commitment to building stronger, safer communities.

In honor of Kurt’s recognition as a Birdland Community Hero, the Orioles Charitable Foundation will make a donation to the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation.

Janiah Fields is a 20-year-old Baltimore native and recent graduate of McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland, where she earned her bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in Africana Studies. Both on and off campus, she has devoted much of her time to Black mental health advocacy, with a particular focus on culturally responsive suicide prevention strategies.

During her time at McDaniel, Janiah held numerous leadership and mentorship roles. She served as an EDGE Mentor through the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, supporting first-year students transitioning from Baltimore City Public Schools—an initiative deeply personal to her. She also worked as an Outreach Specialist in McDaniel’s Wellness Center, served on the President’s Advisory Council of Students, was the acting President of the Psychology Honors Society, and held the role of Upperclassmen Resident Assistant. Across all her roles, Janiah prioritized ensuring that students of color felt seen, supported, and empowered throughout their academic journeys.

Outside of McDaniel, Janiah has actively collaborated with organizations such as the Black Mental Health Alliance, Healing Youth Alliance, SAMHSA, and the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities. At just 19 years old, she was invited to the White House for the release of the 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and Federal Action Plan under the Biden-Harris administration, in recognition of her work to raise awareness about Black youth suicide and the importance of addressing race in mental health efforts.

Additionally, Janiah served as a research assistant at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the Department of Mental Health. She was a member of the GRACE Lab, led by Dr. Leslie Adams, where she contributes to research focused on mental health disparities in Black communities. The lab’s work explores how racialized experiences influence suicidal ideation and mental health outcomes, using a community-based, mixed-methods approach.

In the fall, Janiah will begin pursuing a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. Her long-term goal is to earn a doctorate and become a clinical researcher dedicated to advancing culturally grounded approaches to suicide prevention and promoting the mental wellness of Black youth.

In recognition of her work, the Orioles Charitable Foundation will make a donation to Black People Die By Suicide Too.

Jameson Greenwood is a sophomore at Hereford High School and founder of Replay Hampstead, an organization that aims to make sports affordable for all. When Jameson was 11, he realized that the cost of sports could keep some children from being able to participate. Sports being an integral part of his life, Jameson started collecting used sports equipment to be redistributed in the community. He established a partnership with the North Carroll Recreation Council so that monetary donations could be used to pay registration fees for children who otherwise would not be able to afford to play.

Jameson is a straight-A student in all honors and gifted and talented classes, a member of the Hereford High School varsity golf and baseball teams, secretary of the For Our Troops Club, and volunteers regularly at a local food pantry.

In honor of Jameson's recognition as a Birdland Community Hero, the Orioles Charitable Foundation will make a donation to Replay Hampstead.

Phoebe Hubbard and Harrison Hubbard have been members of the Baltimore Kind Minds service group for the past three years. Their group works together to identify and then work on challenges in Baltimore City. In 2023, during the teacher shortage, they had a project funded by Kindness Grows Here to show appreciation and spread kindness to teachers across Baltimore City. The following year, they received a grant from the Maryland Youth Advisory Council to complete a project spreading kindness to students across Baltimore City with an emphasis on mental health issues. Currently, with funding from the Miles White Beneficial Society, they are working with the non-profit, Foster the Family, to provide meals and resources to new foster families.

Phoebe Hubbard, a third grader at Medfield Heights Elementary School, loves to play soccer and basketball. She was recently the spelling bee champion at her school (and she is only in 3rd grade!). She is an avid reader, and she is proud to be an elected member of school’s Student Government Association. Phoebe is often part of the Baltimore Kind Minds artistic team, drawing pictures on labels and writing notes. She has become our number one baker of corn bread muffins and brownies in our new cooking service project.

Harrison Hubbard is a freshman at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute where he is a member of the math and science STEM program, the Ingenuity Project. Having a passion for math and science, each summer since 5th grade, Harrison has participated in the Henry Hall Summer Scholars program through the National Aquarium. Last year, Harrison was the recipient of the Student Accomplishment in Gifted and Talented Education Award, given by the Maryland Gifted and Talented Advisory Council for academic performance and student accomplishment that goes above and beyond his peers. Last summer, Harrison enjoyed being an intern with the Charm Literary magazine. Harrison loves all his hometown teams but especially loves the Orioles. In fact he is a baseball player himself, in addition to playing ping pong on his high school team. In addition to the Baltimore Kind Minds, Harrison has also volunteered for the organization ShareBaby.

In honor of Pheobe & Harrison's recognition as Birdland Community Heroes, the Orioles Charitable Foundation will make a donation to Baltimore Kind Minds.