Long-term parternship with school begins

On opening day for the Orioles, a Harlem Park Elementary/Middle School student threw out the first pitch to franchise legend Cal Ripken Jr. Last week, the school’s principal, Venus Jackson, did the same. Those pitches are the start of a partnership with the school that the Orioles say will last years.

During a news conference at the school last week, Orioles executive vice president of public affairs Kerry Watson laid out a scenario: Next fall, a pre-K student will start at Harlem Park and will be expected to receive support from the Orioles through high school, college and beyond.

“That is how long this relationship will last,” he said.

A news release about the partnership with Harlem Park, located in West Baltimore, did not lay out a dollar figure commitment, but instead said the club would provide the school “with various resources and opportunities to enhance the educational and athletic experience of its students.” That could include baseball and softball clinics, school supply donations and hosting students and faculty at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the release stated.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias, and Baltimore City Public Schools CEO Sonja Santelises attended the news conference Friday regarding the new partnership.

“In the past, our organization, much like other companies and sports franchises, did community engagement in a particular way,” Watson said. “You volunteer, you write a check, you take a picture, everyone smiles and feels good about themselves. And that’s OK. But as you look at it, we have to take a look back and say, ‘But is that the ‘Oriole Way?’ and I think we’ve determined that it is not.

“And that’s not a criticism. Look, for a myriad of reasons, organizations, companies write checks to wonderful organizations that go out and do good work, great work, in our community. But for the Orioles, it’s now time for our next chapter.”