For Immediate Release
Contact
Justin Mulcahy
Justin.mulcahy@bge.com
Youth Development Park to provide kids with a safe place to play, serve as home field of James Mosher Baseball – the oldest continuously operating African-American youth baseball league in the country
Baltimore, Md. – Recognizing the need for change within the Baltimore community, the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) and its partners today unveiled Eddie Murray Field at BGE Park. The Youth Development Park will provide kids in the West Baltimore community with a safe place to play, as well as 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.
“Every child deserves a positive environment where they can play and grow while surrounded by caring adults who can teach them important life lessons like teamwork, respect and personal responsibility,” said Cal Ripken Jr. “We are excited to bring this ballpark to the deserving kids and local community of West Baltimore. To be able to dedicate this park to my dear friend Eddie Murray makes today extra special.”
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. Ongoing programs will help keep kids safe by providing a positive outlet, mentorship opportunities and a variety of activities that teach life skills.
“Like the James Mosher Baseball League, BGE has deep roots in Baltimore, and we are extremely proud to provide this legacy gift to the city we have called home for more than 200 years,” said Calvin G. Butler Jr., chief executive officer for BGE. “This youth development park will have a lasting impact on young people by providing them with a healthy environment where they can build skills and experiences necessary for success as adults.”
Eddie Murray Field at BGE Park features 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. Additional project partners include the State of Maryland, Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, Under Armour, FIELDS, Bon Secours, Baltimore Health System Foundation, T. Rowe Price Foundation.
Since 2009, the Ripken Foundation has created 74 completed parks across the country in 21 states, 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 16 years, the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation has worked tirelessly to implement youth development program that directly address the problems facing at-risk youth in distressed communities across the country. Inspired by one of the most iconic baseball families, the Ripkens created the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation to honor the legacy of its family patriarch, longtime coach, and mentor, Cal Ripken, Sr. The Ripken Foundation uses sports-themed programs to bring police officers, youth partners and underserved kids ages 9 – 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. Since 2009, the Ripken Foundation has created 74 completed parks across the country in 21 states, impacting over 279,000 kids annually. In 2016, the Ripken Foundation impacted over 1.2 million kids nationwide through its Youth Development Park and mentor programs. For more information, visit www.RipkenFoundation.org. Follow us on Facebook & Twitter @CalRipkenSrFdn and Instagram @CalRipkenSrFoundation.
Contact:
Katy FordMaroon PR/CRSF443-695-8099Katy@MaroonPR.com
Katie O’HaraMaroon PR/CRSF443-864-4246KOhara@MaroonPR.com
Justin MulcahyBGE410-470-7433Justin.mulcahy@bge.com
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BGE, founded in 1816 as the nation's first gas utility and headquartered in Baltimore, is Maryland's largest natural gas and electric utility. The company's approximately 3,200 employees are committed to safe and reliable energy delivery to more than 1.3 million electric customers and more than 680,000 natural gas customers in central Maryland. In the J.D. Power 2017, 2018, and 2019 Electric Utility Business Customer Satisfaction Studies SM BGE was ranked Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Business Electric Service in the East among Large Utilities. In the J.D. Power 2018 and 2019 Gas Utility Business Customer Satisfaction Studies SM BGE was ranked Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Business Natural Gas Service among utilities in the East Region. BGE is a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (Nasdaq: EXC), the nation's leading competitive energy provider. Connect with BGE on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, and engage with the latest BGE stories on bgenow.com.
Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (or "BGE") received the highest score in the East Region of the 2019 Gas Utility Business Customer Satisfaction Study and the East Large Segment of the 2019 Electric Utility Business Customer Satisfaction Study of gas and electric utility customer satisfaction among business customers. Visit jdpower.com/awards.
