Manis Canning & Associates’ clients the Baltimore Ravens and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Baltimore broke ground Thursday on the Baltimore Ravens Boys & Girls Club at Hilton Recreation Center. The club is expected to be completed by September 2025 and will serve more than 2,000 kids, teens, and community members.
Plans for the Club were first announced in early 2023 with the Baltimore Ravens and Stephen & Renee Bisciotti Foundation making a lead $20 Million gift to launch the project. Additional fundraising, permitting, and planning have occurred since that time, allowing today’s groundbreaking to take place.
To date, an additional $12 million has been secured to support the construction and long-term operating of the facility. Investors include Under Armour, Davis Family Foundation, Sherman Family Foundation, Bunting Family Foundation, Kahlert Foundation, T Rowe Price Foundation, France-Merrick Foundation, Abell Foundation, the State of Maryland, and numerous individuals and more foundations. Fundraising is ongoing with $7 million- still to raise.
Jeff Breslin, President & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Baltimore said: “Today is the next significant step in bringing the Baltimore Ravens Boys & Girls Club to the kids and teens of West Baltimore. The generosity of the community and our partners has been overwhelming, led by the Ravens and Steve and Renee Bisciotti. Following their lead gift, we are thrilled and honored that others like the Sherman Family Foundation have stepped up to support this project. Not only will we create, but we will sustain, a state-of-the-art place where kids and teens can learn, play, and ultimately reach their full potential in a safe and healthy environment. This is a model that only two other NFL cities have created, and we are honored that Baltimore will be a shining example to other communities and Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide.
Sashi Brown, President of the Baltimore Ravens added: “This has been a journey that was launched by the generosity of the Bisciotti Foundation and now this Club will really start to take shape and become a reality for this community. Football is a team sport, and this has been an amazing team effort with so many partners stepping up for the youth of our city. The next step will be cutting the ribbon on this amazing and special place.”
For more information read the full press release and WMAR-TV coverage.