Orioles wrap up impactful Orange & Black Gives Back Week of Service
The Orioles concluded the club’s Orange & Black Gives Back Week of Service, a series of community service projects throughout all of Birdland. This year, the Orioles partnered with each affiliate – the Triple-A Norfolk Tides, Double-A Bowie Baysox, High-A Aberdeen IronBirds, and Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds – to complete a service project in their communities, as well as in Frederick, Md., Sarasota, Fla., and Boca Chica, Dominican Republic, for a total of 11 projects in seven communities. In total, nearly 500 players, coaches, personnel, members of the Senior Leadership Team, and front office staff participated in the service projects, spending nearly 900 total hours giving back to their respective communities.
The Orioles’ commitment to community service is deeply rooted in the club’s history and tradition, with more than 31 service projects completed and 36 organizations impacted since the start of last year, including the Week of Service projects.
“We were elated to have the IronBirds and Orioles support this project. Their generous spirit and the number of players who participated was truly inspiring,” shared DEB MERLOCK, President of Harford County Education Foundation. “Their support will undoubtedly play a significant role in the success and the well-being of the children served through their efforts. The players’ contribution to this project is a testament to their positive impact on the community.”
“The support of the Orioles Orange & Black Gives Back and Bowie Baysox is invaluable to the Caring Cupboard,” said CHUCK YOCUM, Caring Cupboard Co-Founder and Past President. “The Cupboard was founded to fight food insecurity among kids in our community. There are no bigger heroes to them than our local athletes. For the kids to see that they’re cared about by our local professional teams means the world. They are amazing role models for our youth.”
“It is inspiring how our players, coaches, front office, and Orioles Alumni all came together to support our communities,” said JENNIFER GRONDAHL, Orioles Senior Vice President, Community Development and Communications. “We are committed to building stronger thriving communities in and around our baseball parks.”
The Week of Service events included participation from Orioles players, top prospects, and coaches, as well as Orioles Hall of Famer and Community Ambassador BOOG POWELL, former Oriole MIKE DEVEREAUX, members of the front office, the Oriole Bird, and affiliate mascots. Descriptions of the completed events follow.
THE DELMARVA SHOREBIRDS – players and staff completed 50 care packages for Operation We Care, an all-volunteer nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting military members and first responders.
THE ABERDEEN IRONBIRDS – players and staff assembled a record-number 402 homework packs for students at various local Title 1 schools through the Harford County Education Foundation.
THE FREDERICK KEYS – players and staff wrote notes of encouragement to be included with supplies from United Way of Frederick County’s “Stuff the Bus” school supply drive ahead of the 2023-2024 school year.
THE NORFOLK TIDES – players and staff participated in a wiffle ball event with 35 youth from the Boys & Girls Club of Southampton Roads at Young Terrace Park in Norfolk. Additional players and staff prepared 44 packages for pediatric cancer patients through Roc Solid Foundation. Players and staff also accepted donations and stocked shelves at the Food Bank of Southeastern Virginia to directly benefit 600 families this week.
THE BOWIE BAYSOX – players and staff collected 40 large bags of trash and other debris to beautify a local park with Green Team Bowie. Additional players and staff assisted with stocking shelves of food for Caring Cupboard, completing three weeks’ worth of individual volunteer work.
THE FCL ORIOLES – players and staff provided hitting, pitching, baserunning, and fielding instruction for 34 youth participants from Girls, Inc., and the Boys & Girls Club of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties.
THE DSL ORIOLES – players and staff hosted a youth clinic at the Baseball City Complex for 40 participants, ages 8-13, from Liga Deportiva Quezada and Liga Deportiva y Cultural Ozuna Aquino, two local baseball programs. Players and staff also collaborated with local authorities for a beach clean-upat Boca Chica Municipal Hall, gathering 26 total 30-liter bags of waste.