2018 Birdland Community Heroes

The Orioles will honor Col. Ed Rothstein, retired Garrison Commander of Fort George G. Meade, and board member of the Fort Meade Alliance Foundation, as Friday's Birdland Community Hero. Rothstein oversaw Fort Meade's raising of over $3.6 million in funds for the Fort Meade Resiliency and Education Center. The center will serve as the hub for various services military members in and around Fort Meade will utilize for many years to come. Upon retiring from his role as Garrison Commander, Rothstein joined the Fort Meade Alliance Foundation Board to help take the project from concept to reality. The Orioles Charitable Foundation will also make a $2,500 donation to the Fort Meade Alliance Foundation.

• Fort Meade Alliance: www.ftmeadealliancefoundation.org

Antonia Fasanelli, Executive Director of the Homeless Persons Representation Project, will be recognized as Saturday's Birdland Community Hero. For over 10 years, Fasanelli has led the Homeless Persons Representation Project, which provides free civil legal aid and advocacy for and with persons struggling with homelessness. During her tenure, HPRP has become a nationally-recognized model for providing civil legal aid and advocacy for and with persons experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The Orioles Charitable Foundation will also make a $2,500 donation to the Homeless Persons Representation Project.

• Homeless Persons Representation Project: http://www.hprplaw.org/

Director of POWER House Community Center at Living Classrooms Foundation, Colin Jones, will be honored as Sunday's Birdland Community Hero. As a lifelong resident of Perkins Homes, the largest public housing community in Baltimore City, and director of POWER House community center, Jones is leading the implementation of a community-based approach to disrupting the cycle of poverty and decreasing crime in an area of the city that is commonly plagued by low educational achievement, high unemployment, drug use, health issues, and violence. The Orioles Charitable Foundation will also make a $2,500 donation to Living Classrooms Foundation.

• Living Classrooms: https://livingclassrooms.org/

The Orioles will honor Abigayle Levin & Lexi Thomas, founders of Flowers for Powers as Friday's Birdland Community Heroes. After founding Flowers For Powers five years ago, Levin and Thomas have delivered flowers and smiles to thousands of people in need. They are focused on delivering flowers to infusion centers, hospice centers, nursing homes, and in-home patients, to cheer up those in need. The Orioles Charitable Foundation will also make a $2,500 donation to Flowers for Powers.

• Flowers for Powers: www.flowersforpowers.com

Dr. Julie R. Brahmer, Director of the Thoracic Oncology Program at The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, and Board Member for the LUNGevity Foundation, will be recognized as Saturday's Birdland Community Hero. In addition to being a global thought leader in the emerging field of immunotherapy, Dr. Brahmer has served on LUNGevity's esteemed Scientific Advisory Board since 2013. She also serves as a LUNGevity Foundation Peer Reviewer who lends her scientific expertise to help review the letters of intent and applications that are submitted to the foundation by researchers. Dr. Brahmer volunteers at various Breathe Deep walks in the area, speaking with participants, and walking alongside survivors and their families. The Orioles Charitable Foundation will also make a $2,500 donation to the LUNGevity Foundation. 

• Lungevity: www.lungevity.org

Executive Director of Catholic Charities of Baltimore, Bill McCarthy, will be honored as Sunday's Birdland Community Hero. For over nine years, McCarthy has served as the executive director, leading an agency of more than 2,000 employees and 17,000 volunteers who provide care and services for people who live in poverty, older Marylanders, children and families in crisis, immigrants, and individuals with intellectual disabilities. Each year, across its 80 programs and 200 locations, McCarthy helps to lead Catholic Charities in serving over 160,000 individuals and families. The Orioles Charitable Foundation will also make a $2,500 donation to Catholic Charities of Baltimore.

• Catholic Charities of Baltimore: www.cc-md.org

The Orioles honor first responders from the Capital Gazette shooting as Friday's Birdland Community Heroes. Members of the Anne Arundel County Police Department, the Annapolis Police Department, the Anne Arundel County Sheriff's Office, and the Annapolis Fire Department were the first public safety officials to arrive on scene of the active shooter incident on June 28. These police officers, sheriff's deputies, and fire marshals responded within 60 seconds of the first 911 call. They entered into the building facing unknown danger, without hesitation, to confront the suspect, protect the innocent, and render aid to victims. Their selfless action undoubtedly saved lives. Although they are unable to be present for Friday's game, the Orioles will also recognize the Anne Arundel County and Annapolis Fire Departments who responded to the scene and provided mission support and tactical and emergency services. The Orioles will also make a $2,500 donation to the Capital Gazette Families Fund in support of the Birdland Community Heroes program.

• Capitalze Gazette Families Fund: http://cfaac.org/capital-gazette-families-fund.html

Leah Pemberton, Chief Program Officer at Building STEPS, is recognized as Saturday's Birdland Community Hero. Building STEPS equips Baltimore City students with the tools to propel them to college and career success. In nine years with the organization, Pemberton has brought over 300 new students into the program, helping them earn college degrees, and has created more opportunities for students to participate in activities which teach professionalism and prepare students for college. The Orioles will also make a $2,500 donation to Building STEPS, in support of the Birdland Community Heroes program.

• Building STEPS: 
  https://www.buildingsteps.org/

In coordination with the OriolesREACH Food & Funds Drive, Roberta Tunstall, a volunteer with the Maryland Food Bank, is recognized as the Birdland Community Hero on Saturday evening. For more than 11 years, she has volunteered in the community kitchen, packing meals made by the food bank's FoodWork students; preparing snacks for the Summer or Supper club schools; and sorting incoming donated food or meals for seniors or for emergency food assistance needs. In 2017 alone, Tunstall volunteered more than 250 hours at the food bank. The Orioles will also make a $2,500 donation to the Maryland Food Bank, in support of the Birdland Community Heroes program.

• Maryland Food Bank: https://mdfoodbank.org/

Stewardship Officer with Catholic Relief Services, Tiffany Jackson, is being honored as Sunday's Birdland Community Hero. For over 17 years, Jackson has worked for Catholic Relief Services, the international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Jackson has worked in both the finance and charitable giving divisions, and three departments within the agency. In her current role as Stewardship Officer, Jackson ensures that gifts are designated to programs that align with the intentions specified by supporters. The Orioles will also make a $2,500 donation to Catholic Relief Services in support of the Birdland Community Heroes program.

• Catholic Relief Services: https://www.crs.org/

Laurie Moser is being recognized as Friday's Birdland Community Hero for her efforts to strengthen work zone safety. Moser became a work zone safety avocate following the loss of her husband to a work zone crash in June 2007. Moser works tirelessly with the legislature in Annapolis to toughen laws, and to spread the word about work zone safety to help keep workers and drivers safe. The Orioles will make a $2,500 donation to the American Traffic Safety Services Foundation's National Work Zone Memorial Fund.

• American Traffic Safety Services Foundation's National Work Zone Memorial Fund: http://www.atssa.com/TheFoundation

Seventh-Inning Stretch Performance:

Founder and Executive Director of the Casey Cares Foundation, Casey Baynes, will be honored as Saturday's Birdland Community Hero. In 2000, Baynes founded Casey Cares, a nonprrofit dedicated to creating little moments and lasting memories to families with critically-ill children. In 2018 alone, Casey Cares will provide more than 17,000 program activities to local families. The Orioles will make a $2,500 donation to Casey Cares.

• Casey Cares: http://caseycares.org/

Seventh-Inning Stretch Performance:

The Orioles are recognizing Bonnie Carroll, President and Founder of Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), as Sunday's Birdland Community Hero. Carroll is a 2015 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a military veteran, and a former White House staffer. She founded TAPS following the death of her husband, Brigadier General Tom Carroll, in an Army C-12 plane crash in November of 1992. TAPS, the leading national Military Service Organization, provides compassionate care, casework assistance, and 24/7/365 emotional support for anyone impacted by the death of a military loved one. The Orioles will make a $2,500 donation to TAPS.

• Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors: https://www.taps.org/

Seventh-Inning Stretch Performance:

President of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland, Sharon  Maneki is recognized as a Birdland Community Hero. For over three decades, Maneki has tirelessly served blind and low-vision Marylanders, advocating for the blind and their families, working to provide them with necessary resources and opportunities. The Orioles will make a $2,500 donation to the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland.

• National Federation of the Blind of Maryland: http://www.nfbmd.org/

Seventh-Inning Stretch Performance:

Fallen Baltimore County Police Officer Amy Caprio served as a Baltimore County police officer for the last four years before being killed in the line of duty while responding to an incident in Perry Hall, Md., on May 21, 2018. Her husband, Tim Caprio, will accept the award on her behalf and the Orioles will make a $2,500 donation to the Harford County Humane Society in her honor.

• Harford County Humane Society: http://www.harfordshelter.org/

Seventh-Inning Stretch Performance:

The Orioles recognized Joe Paska of the USO Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore, as Sunday's Birdland Community Hero. Paska, a retired Army Major, has been volunteering with the USO since 2015, welcoming service members home at the USO BWI Lounge, helping them to adjust to life back home. The Orioles will make a $2,500 donation to the USO Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore BWI Lounge.

• USO Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore BWI Lounge: https://metro.uso.org/

Seventh-Inning Stretch Performance:

John Frisch; Member of the Board of Directors of Visit Baltimore and the Visit Baltimore Education & Training Foundation, was a founding board chairman and was instrumental in the creation of the organization.

• Visit Baltimore Education & Training Foundation: https://baltimore.org/foundation

Seventh-Inning Stretch Performance:

Meredith "Smitty" Smith is recognized for his commitment to the Holistic Life Foundation (HLF). Smith has supported HLF's mission since its inception, helping to make it the impactful community-based organization that it is today.

• Holistic Life Foundation: https://hlfinc.org/

Seventh-Inning Stretch Performance:

Dr. Arthur "Bud" Burnett professor of urology at The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute at Johns Hopkins Medicine, is recognized as Sunday's Birdland Community Hero. In addition to his work at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Burnett has been a mentor and benefactor of the Baltimore nonprofit, Mentoring Male Teens in the Hood, which works to help young people in Baltimore's toughest neighborhoods.

• The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute at Johns Hopkins Medicine: http://urology.jhu.edu/

Seventh-Inning Stretch Performance:

Saniya Vashist, Founder of codeHER, and CEO of empower. A River Hill High School (Md.) sophomore, Vasjist provides programming through codeHER in 13 Maryland middle schools, helping to expose young women to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) career options, to empower girls around the world through computer science education, to help to inspire the next generation of technologists, and to build confidence in young girls everywhere. The Orioles will make a $2,500 donation to Junior Achievement of Central Maryland in support of the Birdland Community Heroes program.

• Junior Achievement of Central Maryland: 
  https://www.juniorachievement.org/web/ja-centralmaryland/home

Seventh-Inning Stretch Performance:

Andrew Knox, Director of Outreach and Re-Entry at the Boys & Girls Club of Metropolitan Baltimore. Andrew is recognized for his understanding, knowledge, and commitment to the needs of the young men at the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center (BCJJC). Knox has assisted hundreds of youth with getting back in school, attaining their GED, securing employment, finding housing, and helping with their spiritual growth. The Orioles will make a $2,500 donation to the Boys & Girls Club of Metropolitan Baltimore in support of the Birdland Community Heroes program.

• Boys & Girls Club of Metropolitan Baltimore: http://www.bgcmetrobaltimore.org/

Seventh-Inning Stretch Performance:

Avalon Bristow, Conservation Specialist, and Holly Shields, Mid-Atlantic Education Manager, for their work in Baltimore with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) - Mid Atlantic. Through their roles with the NWF, Bristow and Shields work in partnership with Baltimore residents to improve the overall quality of the city. Both Bristow and Shields also helped develop the Oriole Garden at Camden Yards. The Orioles will make a $2,500 donation to NWF in support of the Birdland Community Heroes program.

• National Wildfire Federation: https://www.nwf.org/

Seventh-Inning Stretch Performance:

Robert (Bob) Babb, Head Baseball Coach at Johns Hopkins University. As coach of the Blue Jays for the past 39 seasons, he spearheads the team in supporting many community service on a local and national level. The Orioles will also make a $2,500 donation to Family & Children's Services of Central Maryland in support of the Birdland Community Heroes program.

• Family & Children's Services of Central Maryland: https://www.fcsmd.org/

Seventh-Inning Stretch Performance:

Dr. John Fetting, a breast cancer medical oncologist and Associate Professor of Oncology at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Fetting is an advocate for breast cancer prevention and is fundraising to support breast cancer prevention research at Johns Hopkins. The Orioles will also make a $2,500 donation to The John Fetting Fund for Breast Cancer Prevention Research.

• The John Fetting Fund for Breast Cancer Prevention Research: http://www.fettingfund.org/

Seventh-Inning Stretch Performance:

Michelle Miles; Program Manager from YouthWorks was honored for her work with Baltimore City's summer jobs program (YouthWorks) for residents age 14-21. The Orioles will also make a $2,500 donation to the Baltimore Office of Employment Development in support of the Birdland Community Heroes program.

• Youth Works: moed.baltimorecity.gov

Seventh-Inning Stretch Performance:

Andy Weltlinger; Founder of Baltimore Urban Baseball Association (BUBA), was recognized for his dedication to rejuvenating baseball in Baltimore City, working with former college and professional baseball players to teach, educate, and mentor young players in year-round programming throughout the city. The Orioles will also make a $2,500 donation to BUBA in support of the Birdland Community Heroes program.

• BUBA: bubabaseball.org

Seventh-Inning Stretch Performance:

Bob Wall; Baltimore City Recreation & Parks, Chief of Recreation, was recognized for his help in the community for the past 47 years, developing the Baltimore City Recreation & Parks Play Baseball program and supporting the Orioles RBI Program. The Orioles will also make a $2,500 donation to the Baltimore City Foundation's Youth Recreation Programs, in support of the Birdland Community Heroes program.

• Baltimore City Foundation Youth Recreation Programs: Bcrp.baltimorecity.gov

Seventh-Inning Stretch Performance:

Wyatt Oroke; A humanities teacher at City Springs Elementary/Middle School in Baltimore. Oroke was recently recognized as an inspiring educator on The Ellen Show. The Orioles will also make a $2,500 donation to GLSEN Maryland in support of the Birdland Community Heroes program. GLSEN is the leading national organization championing LGBTQ issues in K-12 education.

• GLSEN Maryland: www.glsen.org/chapters/maryland

Seventh-Inning Stretch Performance:

Barry Williams; Area President of Boy Scouts of America, Williams is being recognized as Saturday's Birdland Community Hero for his 50-plus year commitment to the Boy Scouts. The Orioles will also make a $2,500 donation to the Baltimore Area Council, Boy Scouts of America in support of the Birdland Community Heroes Program.

• Boy Scouts of America: www.baltimorebsa.org

Seventh-Inning Stretch Performance:

Carmera Thomas; Baltimore Program Manager with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation; for her dedication to bettering the environment in the Maryland area. Thomas is currently working to restore the oyster population in the Patapsco River, collaborating with community groups and youth to connect to the natural resources around Baltimore City.

• Chesapeake Bay Foundation: www.cbf.org

Seventh-Inning Stretch Performance:

Lieutenant Colonel Jason Pasley; for his work with "Stop the Bleed" Program, an initiative to inform civilians how to recognize life-threatening bleeding and teach steps they can take to help save a life while waiting for trained medics to arrive.

• The Maryland State Committee on Trauma: www.mdcot.org

Seventh-Inning Stretch Performance:

Liza Goldberg; for her dedication to protecting natural resources and developing new technology through her work at NASA Goddard's Biospheric Sciences Lab.

• Conservation International: www.conservation.org

Seventh-Inning Stretch Performance: