Stronger Together: Fan Donations Make Direct Impact on Baltimore City Youth

On a humid August day in Baltimore City, a minivan full of school-aged children pulled up to Billie Holiday Elementary School. They weren’t getting dropped off for their first day of school; rather, they were driving up to receive equipment that will help make their baseball and softball dreams a reality.

“I really appreciate it because not a lot of people can get equipment like this,” said Christian, age 12, as he admired his new bat and glove. Christian and his family attended the Orioles Jr. RBI Drive-Thru Equipment Distribution event, sponsored by Pepsi Stronger Together at Billie Holiday Elementary.

This event is part the partnership between the Orioles and Pepsi Stronger Together – PepsiCo’s series of grassroots initiatives that brings tailored programming support to communities across the country – to empower the next generation of baseball and softball players in Baltimore City. Through a series of equipment distribution events this season, more than 350 youth from different underserved neighborhoods of Baltimore City have received access to new and gently used equipment.

What Christian may not have realized when he received that bat and glove is that another young Orioles fan had generously donated the equipment at one of the Oriole Advocates’ Cardboard to Leather equipment collections earlier this month. The fan, Evan, was joined by his family at the O’s home game on Sunday, August 8, where he donated a bat, helmet, glove, and other items.

“Some people don’t have as good of equipment and I want to help,” explained Evan, as he heaved his big bag of equipment into the collection bin.

During the 2021 season, Orioles fans like Evan opened their hearts to help give back and contribute $5,750 and more than 660 pieces of equipment to the Cardboard to Leather program. Since the collections started nearly three decades ago, the Oriole Advocates have distributed over 80 tons of equipment to schools, orphanages, community groups, and hospitals based on the greatest need.

As part of the Pepsi Stronger Together partnership, the Orioles and the Oriole Advocates increased Cardboard to Leather collections at the ballpark from once a year to four times per year. The equipment collected directly benefited Baltimore City youth, as it was dispersed at a series drive-thru distribution events around the city. In fact, shortly after 11-year-old Anthony received his equipment from the August drive-thru at Billie Holiday Elementary, he went home to “hit dingers.”

“I want to thank the Orioles for the new equipment,” Anthony said with a smile. “I got a new bat!”

Thanks to partners like Pepsi Stronger Together and the Oriole Advocates, the Orioles continue to grow the game of baseball and softball by addressing a critical barrier to play. Learn more about the partnership and Orioles RBI and Jr. RBI programs by visiting orioles.com/rbi.