Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation and Baltimore Gas and Electric Break Ground on West Baltimore Youth Development Park
Eddie Murray Field at BGE Park to host James Mosher Baseball – the
oldest continuously operating African American youth baseball league in
the country
BALTIMORE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation (CRSF) and Baltimore Gas and Electric
Company (BGE) today broke ground at the future site of Eddie Murray
Field at BGE Park in West Baltimore. Recognizing the need for change
within the Baltimore community, the Ripken Foundation and BGE will
develop the Youth Development Park to provide youth in the West
Baltimore community with mentorship through sports and recreation.
Speakers from the ribbon cutting ceremony included Cal Ripken Jr.,
Baseball Hall of Famer and Ripken Foundation vice-chairman; Eddie
Murray, Baseball Hall of Famer; Calvin G. Butler Jr., CEO,
BGE; and Steve Salem, President, Ripken Foundation.
“It’s with great pride that we dedicate this field to my dear friend,
Eddie Murray,” said Cal Ripken Jr. “Kids in our local communities need
our help now more than ever, especially when it comes to finding a
positive environment where they can play, learn and grow. Because of our
dedicated partners in BGE, we can provide the youth in West Baltimore
with a safe place to simply be kids.”
Named in honor of Baseball Hall of Famer and Orioles legend Eddie
Murray, the youth size baseball field will host after-school programming
in addition to James Mosher Baseball – the oldest continuously operating
African-American youth baseball league in the country. The programming
will help keep kids safe by providing a positive outlet, mentorship
opportunities and a variety of activities that teach life skills.
“This park is a symbol of BGE’s commitment to the Baltimore region, and
we are pleased to provide this legacy gift in our 200th
anniversary year,” said BGE Chief Executive Officer Calvin G. Butler Jr.
“BGE supports initiatives that positively impact the community,
especially the lives of young people-our most precious resource.”
Eddie Murray Field at BGE Park will feature a synthetic turf baseball
diamond equipped with dugouts, a backstop, and a digital scoreboard.
Located behind James Mosher Elementary, the field will be gifted to and
maintained by the Baltimore City Public School system. BGE’s support of
this and other corporate citizenship programs is made possible through
the use of Exelon shareholder dollars.
Over the last six years, the Ripken Foundation has completed 60
multipurpose synthetic turf facilities, impacting over 239,000 youth in
16 states nationwide, including 11 parks located throughout the
Baltimore area. Additionally, the Ripken Foundation continues to reshape
the relationship between law enforcement and youth in Baltimore
communities through its Badges for Baseball juvenile crime
prevention program.
About the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation (CRSF)
For the last 15 years, the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation has worked
tirelessly to implement youth development programs that directly address
the problems facing at-risk youth in distressed circumstances across the
country. Inspired by one of the most iconic baseball families, the
Ripken’s created the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation to honor the legacy of
its family patriarch, longtime coach, and mentor, Cal Ripken, Sr. The
Ripken Foundation use sports-themed programs to bring police officers,
youth partners and underserved kids ages 8 to 14 together on a level
playing field to learn invaluable life skills.
In addition, the Ripken Foundation’s Youth Development Park Initiative
creates clean, safe places for kids to play on multi-purpose, synthetic
surface fields that promote healthy living in an outdoor recreational
facility. In just five years, the Ripken Foundation has created 60
completed parks across the country, impacting over 239,000 kids
annually. In 2015, the Ripken Foundation impacted over 1 million kids
nationwide through its Youth Development Parks and mentor programs.
Learn more at www.RipkenFoundation.org.
Like on Facebook/CalRipkenSrFdn and follow us on Twitter
(@CalRipkenSrFdn) and Instagram (@calripkensrfoundation).
About Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE)
BGE,
founded in 1816 as the nation’s first gas utility, is Maryland’s largest
natural gas and electric utility. Headquartered in Baltimore, BGE
delivers power to more than 1.25 million electric customers and more
than 650,000 natural gas customers in central Maryland. The company’s
approximately 3,200 employees are committed to the safe and reliable
delivery of natural gas and electricity, as well as enhanced energy
management, conservation, environmental stewardship and community
assistance. BGE is a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the
nation’s leading competitive energy provider. Like us on Facebook
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and Flickr.
Contacts
Maroon PR/CRSF
Guy Rudiger, 443-864-4246
Guy@MaroonPR.com
or
Katy
Ford, 443-864-4246
Katy@MaroonPR.com
or
BGE
Justin
Mulcahy, 410-470-4733
Justin.Mulcahy@bge.com
