CommunityThe Baltimore Orioles Charitable Foundation and the Baltimore Orioles, Inc., support many civic and charitable organizations with the goal of enriching the lives of fans throughout Birdland. Since the ownership group led by Peter Angelos purchased the team, the Baltimore Orioles have donated more than $9.5 million to support various organizations in the Orioles' community.
In 2009, the Orioles introduced several new ways for fans to get involved and help OriolesREACH extend its efforts in the community.
OriolesREACH Pet Calendar
For the first time ever, the Orioles, Orioles Wives and OriolesREACH teamed with the Maryland SPCA to create the 2010 Orioles Pet Calendar. Proceeds from the calendar, which features Orioles players posing with their own or SPCA dogs and cats, benefit the Maryland SPCA.
Scoreboard Surprises
Fans have always been able to commemorate events at Oriole Park with a dedicated message on the park's center field video boards. This season, the process went online for added convenience. For a $25 donation to the Orioles Charitable Foundation, fans can celebrate a birthday or anniversary with a special message for all spectators to see.
Game-Used Baseball Sales
This year, the Orioles created a new opportunity for fans to purchase one-of-a-kind keepsakes of their Camden Yards experience, while helping their community. Game-used baseballs are now sold at each game at the OriolesREACH Community Booth inside Camden Yards. All proceeds from the sale go to the Baltimore Orioles Charitable Foundation.
Bird Visits
For the first time ever, guests at Oriole Park now have the opportunity to reserve a special visit from everyone's favorite fan, the Oriole Bird. For a $75 donation to Shannon's Fund, fans can now schedule a visit from the Oriole Bird, who will also deliver an Orioles goodie bag directly to the honoree during the game.
Fulfilling a commitment made when he was traded to the Orioles in 2006, former Orioles pitcher Kris Benson and his wife Anna joined the Orioles Charitable Foundation to donate a total of $250,000 to Baltimore charities and the Baltimore City Police Department in two pre-game ceremonies the weekend of April 24 and 25 at Oriole Park.
Benson, now a member of the Texas Rangers, and his wife created the Benson's Battalion Foundation after the tragic events of September 11, 2001. The goal of the Foundation is assist local police, fire and public safety organizations in the fight against terrorism by purchasing the equipment needed in this effort. As part of the trade, the Orioles arranged for a charity bonus to be distributed in conjunction with the Orioles Charitable Foundation to Baltimore-area police, fire and public safety organizations.
The Bensons and the Orioles Charitable Foundation presented a $125,000 joint donation to be divided among the following Baltimore charity groups: The Run to Remember Fund, benefiting the Baltimore City Fire and Police Departments; The Nephcure Foundation; the Johns Hopkins Bipolar Center at Bayview; St. Vincents Center; Shannon's Fund at the University of Maryland Medical Center; and the Casey Cares Foundation.
Additionally, the Bensons donated $125,000 to the Baltimore City Police Department in a pre-game check presentation on April 26. Baltimore Police Commissioner Fred Bealefeld accepted the donation, which is to be used to assist in the purchase of bulletproof vests and other items to support the department.
As part of the K's for Kids Program, each time an Orioles pitcher records a strikeout in 2009, CareFirst BlueCross/BlueShield donates $25 to the SEED School of Maryland. Last season, the program donated $25,000 to the YMCA of Central Maryland's FIT N FUN Program.
This season, corporate partner Kelly & Associates has once again pledged a donation of $2,000 to the University of Maryland Medical System's R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center for every save recorded by an Orioles pitcher. In 2007, $56,000 was raised to help UMMS save lives.
Prior to the O's game on June 28 against the Washington Nationals, representatives from Giant Food presented a check for $1.5 million to The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University of Medicine and the Children's Cancer Foundation as a part of their Triple Winner Campaign.
