BALTIMORE -- Around the Orioles, we’ve been hearing that the future is bright for a while now. Now, the team is extending that sentiment off the field and into the community.

The Orioles on Friday announced the launch of their Adopt-A-School campaign, a dedicated approach to developing partnerships with Baltimore schools to help strengthen community ties and promote youth development. The Orioles plan to provide support and opportunities to young students through this initiative, which begins with a partnership with Harlem Park Elementary Middle School in West Baltimore. The hope being that the efforts truly impact students’ lives and learning for years to come.

“When we say we want to create winners on and off the field in Baltimore, this partnership with the Baltimore Orioles, Harlem Park Elementary and Middle School, and Baltimore City Public Schools for their Adopt-a-School project is exactly what we mean,” Maryland governor Wes Moore said. “The Orioles are committed to making truly impactful engagement in the Harlem Park community, and this partnership will help provide much-needed assistance to the teachers, staff, and administrators and build a closer connection with students and their families.”

A sneak peek at this blossoming partnership was on display on Opening Day when Harlem Park fourth grader Aubree Singletary threw the first pitch to Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr. Additionally, Singletary and her mother were featured in the Orioles’ “Next Chapter” video shown at Oriole Park.

Affectionately known as “The Park,” Harlem Park Elementary serves 440 children in West Baltimore. The school said it is “dedicated to academic excellence and community enrichment” in a statement, adding that it “strives to equip their students with a growth mindset, build emotional regulation and engage in strategic instruction to tackle academic and social challenges.”

"We are thrilled to formalize our relationship with Harlem Park and embark on this journey together,” said Orioles executive vice president of public affairs Kerry R. Watson Jr. “[With] the Orioles, we believe that it is our duty to invest in education and empower students to reach their full potential. Empowerment lies in the ability to harness our platform, amplifying voices, ideas, and initiatives for meaningful impact. Baseball has the power to transcend the boundaries of the field and unite communities, and we believe that by investing in the youth of Baltimore, we can create lasting change and inspire future leaders.”

Through this initiative, the Orioles are committing to providing Harlem Park Elementary with various resources and opportunities to enhance the educational and athletic experience of its students, according to a team statement. These resources may include baseball and softball clinics, donating school supplies for students and teachers, hosting students and faculty at the ballpark, and unique, educational experiences and interactions with players, coaches, and staff, the statement said.

"This partnership with the Baltimore Orioles is a powerful collaboration that will authentically fuel student and school progress,” Harlem Park Elementary Middle school principal Venus L. Jackson said. "By harnessing the organization's unwavering support and the partnership's potential, we'll empower our students to reach their full academic potential and ensure social-emotional wellness. This goes beyond baseball -- it's about fostering a community of resilience, dedication, and lifelong learning that will carry them far beyond the classroom."