More Than a Moment: The Orioles and Harlem Park Unite for Baltimore’s Next Generation

When addressing the team earlier this year, David Rubenstein, the Baltimore Orioles owner and control person, told the players, coaches, and front office staff how important the team is to the City of Baltimore. From top to bottom, the Orioles know and believe they play an important role in the vitality of the city. That is why they are putting their efforts into building up the next generation.

One year ago, on April 12, 2024, the Orioles announced their Adopt-A-School campaign, focused on supporting the students and staff of Harlem Park Elementary Middle School. Located just two miles from Camden Yards in the heart of West Baltimore, Harlem Park serves more than 400 students and staff from pre-k through grade eight.

The inspiration behind the Adopt-A-School campaign, the first of its kind, was that it would allow the Orioles to take a hands-on approach in strengthening the community and helping develop the next generation of leaders to ensure the city of Baltimore continues to thrive. Their vow was not to come in for one year, but to have a presence in the school as long as it is needed, seeing students through and supporting them as they receive a secondary education and enter the workforce, with the ultimate hopes of some of them calling the B&O Warehouse their office one day.

To accomplish that goal, the Orioles took a measured approach this past year to show their support to the students and staff. In a field that is often underappreciated, the O’s made it their goal to ensure Harlem Park teachers and staff were recognized and appreciated, knowing they are keys to a great foundation for the students. This included helping prepare classrooms for the 2025 school year and donating $10,000 in gift cards and school supplies to help make sure they had necessary supplies.

The Orioles offered students a chance to go beyond the classroom and their West Baltimore neighborhood, inviting students out to the ballpark for one-of-a-kind experiences, including interreacting with players, getting behind the scenes tours, yelling “play ball” from the field, and getting to meet different members of the front office. All in the hopes of showing them the opportunities and options out there for them and inspiring them to chase those. As part of their visits, the students also received concession vouchers and some even got to experience what it is like to be the in-game DJ.

While learning can happen outside of the classroom, the Orioles also know the importance of getting children in the classroom. In an effort to boost attendance, they hosted a coat and sneaker drive, ensuring the students had what they needed to make it to school in all seasons of the year.

The impact on the students was evident at every event, but what really stood out was the impact the students had on the Orioles players and coaching staff. Prior to the 2024 Postseason, the players voted to give Harlem Park Elementary Middle School an entire playoff share. Between the playoff share, and a matching gift from the Orioles Charitable Foundation and Heart of America, the students and staff at Harlem Park will have an upgraded outdoor classroom to enhance learning opportunities all year long and making a lasting impact on generations of students.

The impact that the Adopt-a-School program has had in just one year is evident. For the first time, people outside of West Baltimore know the name Harlem Park Elementary Middle School and that name is associated with a bright future. It is associated with a future of hope, not just for the students, but also for the City of Baltimore.

Last year’s preschool class is 12 years away from graduation, but two things will remain certain in that time: the Orioles will play an important part in the vitality of the city and Harlem Park Elementary Middle School will be at the center of it.