Community Impact 2021
Year-round, the Orioles focus their philanthropic efforts on two distinct pillars: Strengthening Our Community and Empowering Our Youth. Throughout the 2021 season, the Orioles strengthened the Baltimore community by volunteering, donating thousands of dollars, and inviting community members to the ballpark to be recognized for their contributions to our city. The Orioles empowered Baltimore youth by making donations to local youth-focused organizations, inviting local youth to the ballpark for educational opportunities, and spreading the game of baseball across the city.
COVID-19 RESPONSE
"Take One for the Team" Campaign
The Orioles, with the help of current and former players, coaches, and front office personnel lunched their "Take One for the Team" campaign, encouraging members of the Birdland community to get the COVID-19 vaccination. The organization spent millions of dollars broadcasting the messaging on social media, at Oriole Park, and on local game broadcasts across MASN and the Orioles Radio Network, promoting health and wellbeing, as well as supporting the economy in Baltimore.
In addition to English messaging, the club also recorded and promoted Spanish messaging to ensure all Baltimore communities were being reached.
In an effort to support the economy and return to work in Baltimore, the Orioles launched a special Opening Day auction to benefit the Baltimore Restaurant Relief Fund, as well as making a $5,000 donation through the Orioles Charitable Foundation.
Get Vaccinated, BirdlandA full team effort has never been more important. Get vaccinated when it's your turn, #Birdland.
Posted by Baltimore Orioles on Monday, March 15, 2021
COVID-19 Testing and Vaccinations
The Orioles partnered with Major League Baseball and the State of Maryland to administer free COVID-19 vaccinations. The "MLB Vaccinate At The Plate" initiative lasted through June, but the Orioles and the State of Maryland continued to offer free on-site vaccinations through the end of the season. Fans who received an on-site vaccination received two free game tickets, as well as other giveaway items. The Orioles administered 135 vaccinations.
The Orioles also partnered with the State of Maryland to provide free and voluntary on-site COVID-19 tests. The Oriole Park testing site was created in conjunction with the Maryland COVID-19 Testing Task Force. The Orioles administered 5,073 COVID-19 tests.
Vaccination Promotions
Fans who showed proof of vaccination at the game on August 28 received an Orioles New Era Black Cap and a 15 percent discount voucher for one-time use at all retail locations in the ballpark.
Supporting Frontline Workers
As a thank you to frontline workers, the Orioles donated 350 tickets to the team behind the M&T Bank Stadium Mass Vaccination Site.
COMMUNITY AND CLUB INITIATIVES
Athletes and Artists
Co-founded by John Angelos and his wife, Margaret Valentine, Athletes & Artists Play for Kids launched in 2015, and combines song and sport to support arts education and girls’ empowerment.
Although the event was not held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Orioles continued to make donations to support Girls, Inc., Baltimore School for the Arts, Jubilee Arts, the YMCA, and other charitable organizations in Baltimore, Sarasota, and Nashville. Since being established in 2015, the Athletes & Artists fund has raised more than $400,000.
As part of the 2021 Birdland Summer Music Series, fans had the opportunity to share their love of music by making a voluntary donation to benefit Baltimore-based arts and music education organizations. The Orioles matched up to $10,000 in fan donations with all proceeds benefiting the scholarship fund.
The Orioles also invited Jubilee Arts, a local organization providing arts classes to the residents of the Sandtown-Winchester, Upton, and surrounding neighborhoods in Baltimore, to hold a community booth at the ballpark to help raise money and awareness for their program.
Pepsi Stronger Together
Through a series of strategic programs, including Jr. RBI, Cardboard to Leather equipment collections, drive-thru equipment distributions, and field renovations, the Orioles and Pepsi Stronger Together gave Baltimore City youth the opportunity to play on improved fields, receive access to proper new and gently used equipment, and learn valuable life skills including teamwork, self-esteem, self-discipline, and leadership through the game of baseball and softball.
Orioles and Pepsi Stronger Together Announce Partnership To Empower Local Youth
Cardboard to Leather Equipment Collection
Birdland Insider: Stronger Together: Fan Donations Make Direct Impact on Baltimore City Youth
As part of the Pepsi Stronger Together partnership, the Orioles and the Oriole Advocates increased Cardboard to Leather collections at the ballpark from once a year to four times per year. Overall, more than 660 pieces of equipment and $5,750 were collected and distributed to more than 400 youth from different underserved neighborhoods of Baltimore City.
Orioles Jr. RBI Drive-Thru Equipment Distribution
The equipment collected through the Cardboard to Leather collections directly benefited Baltimore City youth. Overall, more than 660 pieces of equipment and $5,750 were collected and distributed to more than 400 youth from different underserved neighborhoods of Baltimore City through a series of drive-thru events. Orioles giveaways were also given out at the drive-thru events.
Orioles Field Revitalization Project
The Orioles Field Revitalization Project is designed to improve the field conditions of baseball and softball fields in Baltimore City, making them safe, playable and inviting places for youth to enjoy the game.
In coordination with Baltimore City Recreation and Parks, Orioles Director of Field Operations Nicole Sherry, and other parties, the Orioles identified the 60-foot youth field at Roosevelt Park as the site for the 2021 project. Members of the Orange and Black Gives Back Employee Volunteer Program, Pepsi staff, Baltimore City Recreation and Parks, and Oriole Advocates assisted with the finishing touches on the field by assisting with laying sod, painting fencing, repairing benches, raking and lining the field, among other improvements. Following the field’s ribbon cutting, youth players from Hampden received new and gently-used equipment from the Cardboard to Leather collections and participated in a clinic with former Orioles pitcher Dave Johnson.
Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (R.B.I) Program
After the cancellation of the RBI program in 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Orioles reintroduced the program in fall of 2021. As part of the Major League Baseball youth initiative, the Baltimore Orioles Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program has been inspiring unserved Baltimore City youth to play baseball and softball since 1989. In its return, the Orioles RBI program consisted of over 100 Baltimore youth - its largest fall ball participation number ever.
Juneteenth
Birdland Insider: Making a Difference for Juneteenth
The Orioles promoted Juneteenth education and volunteer opportunities to employees and community members.
Blessings in a Backpack
The Orioles partnered with the Trey Mancini Foundation to host an essential items drive benefiting Blessings in a Backpack, a national organization that feeds elementary-aged children on the weekends who face food insecurity.
Have A Catch
Expanding upon Major League Baseball's Play Ball initiative, the Orioles' 'Have A Catch' campaign was designed to promote interest in baseball through the most fundamental part of the game - playing catch. On June 15, Orioles Hall of Famer Al Bumbry and the Oriole Bird visited Armistead Gardens Elementary on their last day of school to host the Have A Catch event. Students played a variety of catch-related games, and learned basic skills of the game.
Code in Schools
To celebrate the 2021 First-Year Player Draft, the Orioles invited a group of participants from CodeWorks, a six-week coding camp hosted by Code in the Schools, to tour the Orioles Draft Room and learn about careers in Baseball Analytics from Manager of Baseball Systems, Di Zou. The participants received complimentary game tickets. CodeWorks allows local youth, ages 14-21, to get paid to learn real-world tech skills.
Remembering Shaky
The Orioles honored Marc Rosenberg, the “lemonade-shaking guy" during the season. “Shakey,” who worked as a vendor at Oriole Park at Camden Yards from 1996-2019, was known for his joyful exuberance, and was an integral part of the Birdland family for more than 20 years before he passed away earlier this year. In honor of “Shakey,” the Orioles hosted families from Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer at games during the season, including Dena Rovito who threw out the first pitch prior to the game on September 7.
LGBTQ Pride Night
The Orioles hosted their annual LGBTQ Pride night, donating $5 from every LGBTQ Pride Night ticket package to Moveable Feast, a Baltimore organization that strives to improve the health of Marylanders experiencing food insecurity and chronic illness by preparing and delivering medically tailored meals and providing nutrition education, thereby achieving racial, social, and health equity. Through ticket sales, $3,650 was raised for Moveable Feast. The Orioles also held a Pride Hat auction, raising $5,190 for the Orioles Charitable Foundation. Volunteers handed out mini pride flags from the Chamber of Commerce, the Pride Center of Maryland, and Moveable Feast.
Food and Funds Drive
The Orioles Charitable Foundation and members of the Orange & Black Gives Back Employee Volunteer Program, along with volunteers from the Maryland Food Bank, collected non-perishable food items and financial donations in support of the Maryland Food Bank. The collection lasted three days and raised nearly $5,000 and 100 pounds of food.
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
Birdland Insider: Honoring Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
In honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, the Orioles along with Starlight, a foundation which aims to bring joy and happiness to critically ill children, donated two Nintendo Switch Handhelds, fully equipped with RBI 21, to children at the University of Maryland Children’s Hospital. The Orioles also donated promotional items to bring Orioles magic to the hospital during a time where in-person visits with patients are limited. The O's invited two childhood cancer survivors, Dena Rovito, a special guest from Alex’s Lemonade Stand, and Luke Post who was diagnosed with T Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma, a rare form of Non-Hodgkin’s Cancer, to throw out the first-pitch prior to a game.
Orioles pitchers Tyler Wells and Matt Harvey both pledged their support for the the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Wells launched his own fundraiser for the effort, while Harvey pledged a total for every strikeout he recorded in the month of September, raising nearly $5,000.
Eddie Murray's 500th Home Run Celebration
In celebration of the 25th anniversary of Murray’s 500th-career home run, the Orioles donated more than 150 tickets for James Mosher Baseball players and coaches to attend the game and sit in the outfield where Murray hit his 500th home run. James Mosher commissioner, Al Meachum, Jr., was honored during the game, and met Murray prior to the game as a thank you for his service to the youth. Mechum, Jr. has served as the recording secretary for James Mosher Baseball since 1979, and the commissioner since 2000.
The Orioles held a Facebook fundraiser to support James Mosher Baseball. Proceeds from this fundraiser helped James Mosher provide travel and tournament fees for local youth baseball players to compete in the Jackie Robinson League Baseball Tournament in Greenville, North Carolina.
The James Mosher Baseball League serves Baltimore youth ages 4-18, and is believed to be the oldest continuously operating African American youth baseball league in the country.
Boog Powell's Birthday Celebration
In honor of Boog Powell’s 80th birthday on August 17, the Orioles made a meal delivery to volunteers with the Transformation Center. The Transformation Center is a non-profit organization that provides pathways for members to rise above the obstacles of poverty, addiction, poor education, unemployment, and social injustice. The volunteers are both community members and volunteers from around the Baltimore area that prepare food distribution programs that take place every Saturday morning. The food distribution program serves 150-200 families every week, proving food supplies, diapers, hygiene supplies, pet food, and other essential items. The Orioles also donated 100 tickets for their volunteers and community members to attend a game.
Roberto Clemente Day
Birdland Insider: Trey Mancini Named Orioles 2021 Roberto Clemente Award Nominee
The Orioles joined all of Major League Baseball in celebrating the 20th annual Roberto Clemente Day. As part of the league-wide celebration, the Roberto Clemente Day logo appeared on the bases and official dugout lineup cards, all players wore a ‘21’ patch on their jersey, and a special tribute video played in the ballpark.
Prior to the game, Orioles infielder Trey Mancini was honored as the team's 2021 nominee for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award. The most prominent individual player award bestowed by MLB, the Roberto Clemente Award is the annual recognition of a player from each club who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, sportsmanship, community involvement, philanthropy, and positive contributions, both on and off the field.
As part of this nomination and in recognition of Mancini’s commitment to serving his community, MLB made a $7,500 donation to The Food Project, a Baltimore organization that brings cooking, farming, restaurant skills, job opportunities, sustainable food sources, mentorship, and hope to the youth of Southwest Baltimore.
The Food Project
The Orioles and The Food Project have worked together for the past several years, including selling their Seedy Nutty Granola at the Birdland Market to generate funds to support the program. This past season, members of The Food Project worked at the Camden Franks station at Oriole Park, with part of the proceeds going back to the organization. The Food Project was the Orioles Team Charity for the 2021 season, helping to raise awareness to the organization throughout the community.
The Food Project brings cooking, farming, restaurant skills, job opportunities, sustainable food sources, mentorship, and hope to the youth of Southwest Baltimore. The participants worked daily to assemble more than 500 meals per week during the COVID-19 pandemic for vulnerable seniors in the community.
Over the summer, The Food Project lost one of their members, 19-year-old Troy Rush, when he was tragically and senselessly shot and killed. Rush was an employee at Oriole Park. He left behind numerous family and friends, including a 1-year-old daughter and a son on the way. The Orioles donated to the Troy Rush Fund to help cover the cost of his funeral and provide support to he and his family. They encouraged all employees to do the same.
League of Dreams
The Orioles collaborated with local nonprofit, League of Dreams, along with their Chairman of the Board, and Orioles Hall of Famer, Mike Bordick, to host a youth baseball clinic at Oriole Park at Camden Yards for Baltimore County Public Schools Allied Sports Program. Former Orioles players, including Larry Bigbie and Dave Johnson, also took part in teaching children the fundamentals of hitting, fielding, and throwing by using larger and adapted equipment.
League of Dreams is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing all individuals, regardless of physical or mental capacity, the opportunity to experience the joy, challenges, and personal growth of playing the great games of baseball and softball.
Challenger Baseball Fantasy Camp
The Orioles partnered with the Oriole Advocates Challenger Baseball Program to host a youth baseball clinic at Lake Shore Athletic Complex for children with developmental and/or physical challenges. Former Orioles players taught children the fundamentals of hitting, fielding, throwing, and baserunning by using larger and easy-to-use equipment. Participants were from local youth Challenger baseball leagues, county recreation programs, and community programs that share the mission of providing all children with an opportunity to enjoy the experience of playing baseball.
Play Ball Day, presented by Nike
Expanding upon Major League Baseball’s Play Ball campaign, the Orioles hosted Play Ball Days, presented by Nike, at local Maryland Title I schools, including Beechfield Elementary Middle (Baltimore City), Edgewood Elementary (Harford County), East Salisbury Elementary (Wicomico County), and Oxon Hill Middle (Prince George’s County). The event aimed to grow the game of baseball, inspire recreational play in underserved areas, and teach life lessons including teamwork, perseverance, and resilience. The Play Ball Days impacted over 2,200 children.
In partnership with SHAPE Maryland and the Orioles Minor League affiliates located in each community, members of the Orange and Black Gives Back Employee Volunteer Program, and the Oriole Advocates assisted children with hitting, running the bases, and catching pop-ups through fun baseball activities. SHAPE Maryland is an organization that works to enhance and promote the health and wellness of citizens of Maryland by providing advocacy, resources, and professional learning opportunities for current and future PreK-12 health and physical educators.
BIRDLAND COMMUNITY HEROES
The Birdland Community Heroes program, which launched in 2016, honors and recognizes community heroes who inspire through their spirited commitment to extend a hand in charity, service, hope, and harmony. This recognition honors the heroism of members of our extended Orioles community from all walks of life, occupations, and diverse backgrounds living in our region, our country, and abroad, who have distinguished themselves by selflessly working or volunteering in fields that care for, serve, teach, protect, and improve the lives of others, around the corner or around the globe, who are most in need.
In honor of their recognition, the Orioles Charitable Foundation made a $5,000 donation to each respective organization.
Dave Seel
"If I can do something small to make someone's life better, then I absolutely will."
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing restaurant industry crisis, Dave Seel, Board President of the Baltimore Restaurant Relief Fund, founded The Baltimore Restaurant Relief Group as a resource for the local hospitality industry with financial support for Baltimore’s restaurants and its employees. In honor of his recognition, the Orioles Charitable Foundation made a $5,000 donation to the Baltimore Restaurant Relief Fund.
Earline Coffey
Earline Coffey runs the food pantry at the Sandtown-Winchester Achievement Academy in partnership with Elev8 Baltimore, an initiative working to ensure that students in the middle grades (5-8) succeed in school and life. Launched in 2009, Elev8 Baltimore provides out-of-school time opportunities and school-based health services to make sure that every student is ready to succeed in high school and beyond. Coffey is known for always being willing to help wherever needed in the school’s community. In recognition of this award, the Orioles Charitable Foundation donated $5,000 to Elev8 Baltimore.
Derwin Hannah
Derwin Hannah is a coach with the Southwest Seminoles, a team in the Orioles RBI League. He was also instrumental in the revitalization of the Catherine St. Park In Southwest Baltimore, and is the 2020 National Recreation and Parks Association Crawford Prize award winner. In recognition of this award, the Orioles Charitable Foundation donated $5,000 to ABC Park Seminoles Sports Agency.
Sarah Walsh
Sarah Walsh volunteers at annual fundraising events and assists in recruiting other volunteers at the Baltimore Station, an innovative therapeutic residential and outpatient treatment program supporting veterans who are overcoming obstacles to regain self-sufficiency. Throughout the years she has helped to raise thousands of dollars for The Baltimore Station. The Orioles Charitable Foundation will make a $5,000 donated to The Baltimore Station.
Bryan Wayne Galentine (posthumous)
Bryan Wayne Galentine was one of the driving forces behind Lou Gherig Day. In June of 2019, Galentine and a group of friends started persuading MLB to honor Lou Gehrig in a similar way to show it honors Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente. On October 20, 2020, every MLB team pledged its commitment, and two days later, three years after his initial diagnosis, Galentine passed away from ALS. In recognition of this award, the Orioles Charitable Foundation donated $5,000 to I Am ALS.
Merrick Moses
Merrick Moses volunteers as the Board President for the Pride Center of Maryland and has helped take the organization from the brink of closing its doors after more than four decades, to helping the organization get a new state of the art building. The Pride Center’s mission is to be a catalyst for uniting and empowering sexual and gender minorities in Maryland, and to advocate for a better quality of life for the entire community. In recognition of this award, the Orioles Charitable Foundation donated $5,000 to the Pride Center of Maryland.
Jonathon Bauer
Known as the “Ocean City Hero”, Jonathon Bauer saved an 18-month-old girl when he jumped off a 25-foot bridge following a car accident on May 2. After witnessing the car accident, Bauer went to go check on those involved and noticed the young girl was missing from her car seat and face down in the water below. After jumping in to save her, the child was flown to Johns Hopkins hospital where she was expected to make a full recovery. In recognition of this award, the Orioles Charitable Foundation donated $5,000 to the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Department.
Pat Curran
Pat Curran has been leading the volunteers of Feed Howard County over the last 12 months as they have delivered nearly 14,000 meals to families in need in Howard County. Feed Howard County has raised funds and bought meals from Howard County restaurants as they struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic. The idea supports local restaurants, their employees, and families who are food insecure. In recognition of this award, the Orioles Charitable Foundation donated $5,000 to Feed Howard County.
Colonel Walter Holmes
A retired member of the U.S. Air Force, Col. Holmes has been a volunteer with The Food Project for the past two years. He runs a weekly community based project with local youth in partnership with local university students, and has built a curriculum for hands on Community Based Education (CBEdu) that will lead to Community Based Enterprises (CBE) to help empower South West Baltimore. In recognition of his award, the Orioles Charitable Foundation donated $5,000 to The Food Project.
ORANGE & BLACK GIVES BACK
Throughout the year, Orange and Black Gives Back, the Orioles employee and family volunteer program, completes monthly service projects in the Birdland community. These efforts are focused on organizations that support holistic development for youth, as well as nonprofits that strengthen the community by addressing food insecurity, and other economic and environmental obstacles. The Orange and Black Gives Back Employee Volunteer Program completed more than 20 in-person and virtual volunteer opportunities throughout 2021.
Oriole Garden Clean Up
Birdland Insider: Celebrating Earth Day with Oriole Garden Revitalization
In celebration of Earth Day, Orioles employees and members from the National Wildlife Federation joined forces to revitalize the Oriole Garden.
Whitelock Farms
Birdland Insider: Orange and Black Gives Back: Whitelock Community Farm
Members of the Orioles Families Program, along with members of the Orange and Black Gives Back Employee Volunteer Program completed multiple service projects at Whitelock Community Farm, an urban farm in the Reservoir Hill neighborhood.
Prom Series
Prom Series & Orioles Families
The Orioles Family Program partnered with Prom Series to provide back-to-school outfits for 20 girls in foster care in the Baltimore community. Each member of the family program was assigned a foster girl through Building Families for Children. The Orioles Families, along with members of Orange and Black Gives Back Employee Volunteer Program, packaged the outfits with Orioles gear and goodies from Prom Series.
Beep Baseball Clinic
In collaboration with League of Dreams, the Orioles held a beep baseball clinic for children of the Maryland School for the Blind. Beep baseball is an adaptive form of the game for the visually impaired, using a ball that beeps and bases that buzz. Orioles Hall of Famer and League of Dreams Board Member, Mike Bordick, and volunteers from the Orange and Black Gives Back Employee Volunteer Program were on-hand to provide instruction. The Orioles also donated game tickets to clinic participants.
League of Dreams is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing all individuals, regardless of physical or mental capacity, the opportunity to experience the joy, challenges, and personal growth of playing baseball and softball.
Meals on Wheels
Members of Orange and Black Gives Back created and delivered meals and care packages for Meals on Wheels. The club also hosted a specialty auction benefitting Meals on Wheels.
HEROES CORNER
Established in 2021, "Heroes Corner" served as a way to give back and show appreciation to local frontline workers. As part of the initiative, the Orioles donated more than 1,500 total tickets to19 different community groups, from healthcare workers to members of the Maryland Truck Drivers Association.Heroes were also thanked during an in-game welcome, and featured in-game on the Orioles video board.
In addition to "Heroes Corner," the Orioles also donated over 700 tickets to local healthcare workers from MedStar, Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Baltimore Media Center for Nurses Appreciation Week.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Charitable Contributions
The Orioles Charitable Foundation made monetary donation to support the following organizations throughout the 2021 season:
- The Baltimore Symphony
- Baltimore Humane Society
- The Food Project
- Fund for Educational Excellence
- Morgan State University Foundation
In support of Eve Rosenbaum being inducted into the Hall of Fame, the Orioles made a donation to The Bender JCC of Greater Washington.
Community Booths
The Orioles hosted 10 local organizations at the ballpark this season, allowing them to raise awareness and collect donations through community booths on the concourse prior to the game. The Orioles also held memorabilia sales, raising more than $3,800 to benefit three organizations. Some of the organizations included Blessings in a Backpack, Jubilee Arts, and Art with a Heart.
Complimentary Tickets
The Orioles donated more than 9,000 game tickets to local organizations, recognizing volunteers, first responders, and nonprofit groups this season.
In-Kind Donations
The Orioles supported more than 100 nonprofit organizations by donating autographed items to help raise money through silent auctions and other initiatives.
Scoreboard Surprise
This year, fans were able to request their own "Scoreboard Surprise" for a donation to the Orioles Charitable Foundation. Through in-game welcomes and birthday wishes, the Orioles Charitable Foundation raised $26,185.
Virtual Bird Visits
During the COVID-19 Pandemic, The Bird was not making in-person visits. To allow fans to remain connect with the O's, they were able to request virtual visits with The Bird for a donation to the Orioles Charitable Foundation. The virtual visits raised $3,420.
PLAYER INTERACTIONS
Boys and Girls Club
Children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Baltimore joined a virtual Kids Press Conference with Cedric Mullins. In addition to meeting Mullins, they also received ballpark giveaways, including the Kids Opening Day arm sleeves.
Jackie Robinson Day
To honor Jackie Robinson, players sported special t-shirts created in conjunction with The Players Alliance that paid tribute to Robinson pregame. Players also wrote letters to Jackie, thanking him for his impact on the game.
US Navy Meet & Greet
Tyler Wells participated in a virtual meet and greet with two players from the Naval Academy Baseball Team. The Orioles hosted members of the Naval Academy as part of the Heroes Corner program on August 28.
TAPS Meet & Greet
Adam Plutko participated in a virtual meet and greet with a family involved with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors.
Gear for Good Tour
In partnership with the Players Alliance, the Orioles hosted two Orioles RBI teams from Northwood Baseball at Oriole Park. They received an exclusive tour of the ballpark, gear from the Players Alliance, met members of the Orioles roster and front office staff, and enjoyed a complimentary meal and tickets to the game.
SARASOTA
Health and Fitness Challenge
The Orioles and Sarasota County Schools in 2016 launched the Orioles Health & Fitness Challenge to encourage healthy lifestyles among middle school-aged children. Since its inception in 2016, more than 22,500 students have participated in the program.
The program was developed in partnership with Health Fit Powered by Sarasota Memorial to teach students about the importance of physical fitness, healthy eating, and tobacco-free living. During the five-week program, students in grades six through eight participate in a variety of health and fitness challenges led by Sarasota County Phys Ed teachers.
Each week, students receive an Orioles-themed prize, and those who complete the entire six-week challenge receive two complimentary tickets to an Orioles Spring Training game and vouchers for complimentary concessions at the “Orioles Fit!” healthy-food stand at Ed Smith Stadium.
Sarasota Birdland Community Heroes
Joe Gaurisco- Hospitality Director Services Supervisor, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, 25 years
Joe Gaurisco currently manages nearly 200 environmental services staff members who are responsible for providing a clean, safe, and sanitized environment in every area of Sarasota Memorial Hospital. These unsung heroes are on the front lines in the fight against Covid-19 and work diligently to keep the hospital running smoothly and safely. Gaurisco has gone above and beyond during these challenging times — and for the last quarter-century — to ensure his team maintains the highest infection control standards.
Kari Johnson- Sarasota County Teacher of the Year
Going into her fifteenth year as a kindergarten teacher at Fruitvale Elementary School, Kari Johnson went above and beyond to provide her students a safe environment to learn and grow. Johnson has dedicated her career to teaching today’s youth kindness, confidence and compassion
Christopher Kielty- US Army Veteran
Christopher Kielty was deployed to Vietnam in 1969 and assigned to the 20th engineer battalion. During his deployment, Kielty sustained major injuries from an RPG and was evacuated in 1970. He is a Purple Heart recipient who never stopped serving our county. Since arriving home, Kielty has held many offices in the American legion, Vietnam veterans of America, and is currently serving as the vice president of the Sarasota County Veteran’s Commission.
Dwight English- US Army Veteran and Purple Heart Recipient
Dwight English is an U.S. Army Veteran, having served in Korea, Bosnia and Kuwait. After the 9/11 tragedy, English re-enlisted and was deployed to Iraq where he was later injured by an RPG that left him blind in one eye. Today, English works as the veteran outreach specialist for the veteran affairs readjustment counseling service, providing mental health counseling and community activities to the nearly 70,000 veterans living in the Sarasota, Manatee, and Desoto area.
Dr. Manuel Gordillo- Director of Infection Prevention and Control, Sarasota Memorial Health Care System
Throughout the covid-19 pandemic, Dr. Gordillo has led the charge to help triage, test, and treat thousands of patients. In the beginning days of the pandemic, Dr. Gordillo was seeing a patient at Doctors Hospital whom he felt should be tested for Covid-19. Because of his quick action, this patient was the first positive hospitalization in the state of Florida. He has also has served as an advocate and guide for local schools, governments, health departments, and civic and arts organizations, helping them navigate essential public health strategies and precautions to safely reopen and serve the community. “Dr. G” has also taped several Spanish-language segments for radiounidos 101.1lpfm, answering questions and providing accurate and useful information to families regarding the pandemic and the importance of getting vaccinated. All Faiths Food Drives
All Faiths Food Drive
The All Faiths Food Drives provided 1,220 client visits, and a total household impact of 3,461 visits in 2021, collecting 77,807 pounds of food.
Blood Drives
The Orioles gave back to the Sarasota community by hosting numerous blood drives at Ed Smith Stadium throughout the year. The drives are hosted through a partnership with OneBlood and Suncoast Blood Centers.
AUCTIONS
The Orioles hosted six online auctions to benefit specific community and club initiatives this past year. Together, more than $29,000 was raised.
Opening Day
The Orioles launched a special Opening Day auction to support local restaurants through the Baltimore Restaurant Relief Fund. The auction featured game-used bases, jerseys, and baseballs.
Jackie Robinson Day
As part of the league-wide celebration of Jackie Robinson Day, Orioles players and coaches honored Robinson’s legacy by wearing his iconic ‘42’ on the backs of their jerseys. Those game-used jerseys were autographed, authenticated, and auctioned off to benefit the Jackie Robinson Foundation
Memorial Day
To support the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), the Orioles launched a special Memorial Day auction featuring game-used baseballs, game-worn jerseys and caps, and base jewels.
Lou Gehrig Day
To support Brigance Brigade, the ALS Association, and the Johns Hopkins Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis clinic, the Orioles launched an auction featuring team signed 4ALS baseballs and other game used memorabilia.
Orioles Advocates Silent Auction - Cardboard to Leather
The Oriole Advocates held a silent auction featuring autographed memorabilia to benefit Cardboard to Leather. Together, $2,490 was raised in the auction.
Independence Day
To support the USO of Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore, the Orioles held an Independence Day auction featuring autographed Independence Day caps.
FIRST PITCHES
The Orioles invited more than 15 community members to throw out the ceremonial first pitch this season. This allowed community members to be recognized and celebrated for their accomplishments and contributions to the community, while also showing the club's appreciation for them.
THANK YOU, BIRDLAND
Thank you for all of your donations and contributions to the Orioles Charitable Foundation this season. The work we do for the Baltimore Community would not be possible without you.