Under Armour Donates $250,000 to Baltimore City School Facility Enhancements

News Release | April 23, 2019 | 0 Comments

Under Armour Press Release:

Under Armour announced today a gift of $250,000 in grants to support Baltimore City schools’ facility enhancements in 2019 – the second half of a $500,000 commitment over the last two years.

The two-year commitment awards grants of up to $25,000 to 24 schools that improve the quality, safety and accessibility of athletic, academic and recreation facilities with a particular focus on improving student wellness, wholeness and the student-athlete experience. The grants fund the creation or renovation of spaces that empower students to excel not only athletically, but also socially, emotionally and academically.

Projects include seven state of the art gymnasium renovations, multiple new dance studios and study hall center renovations, four new playgrounds, new locker rooms, weight rooms, scoreboards, courtyards and press boxes. In addition, Under Armour’s contribution supported the creation of several in-school spaces that go beyond athletics and give students a place to play, explore and learn, engaging all aspects of their development.

2019 Grant Awardees, with projects to be completed by the beginning of next school year, include:
– Baltimore Montessori Public School
– Barclay Elementary Middle
– Ben Franklin High School
– City Neighbors High School
– Garrett Heights Elementary Middle School
– Green Street Academy
– Hampstead Hill Academy
– Maree G Farring Elementary School
– Mother Seton Academy
– Stadium School
– Tench Tilghman Elementary/Middle School
– William S. Baer School

At Garrett Heights, principal Keisha Matthews-Traynham was able to use the program to support student wholeness, creating innovative “calming zones” for students. “At Garrett Heights Elementary Middle, we believe in the whole child,” said Matthews-Traynham. “Thanks to Under Armour, our new calm-down spaces and staff trainings will give students the assistance they need to develop into the adults they want to be – which is a testament to our school culture. We’re so excited about this opportunity.”

2018 Grant Awardees, all having had projects completed for the beginning of this school year, include:
– Afya Charter School
– Baltimore Design School
– Carver Vocational-Technical High School
– Frederick Douglass High School
– Lakeland Elementary/Middle School
– Lakewood Elementary School
– Lillie May Carroll Jackson Charter School
– Mergenthaler Vocational Technical High School
– New Era Academy
– Reginald F Lewis High School
– Western High School
– William Paca Elementary School

Last year, Carver Vocational-Technical High School’s weight room was in dire need of a renovation, with out-of-date, broken equipment and deteriorating materials. With funding from Under Armour, the school now boasts a state-of-the-art weight room. “Thanks to Under Armour’s generous support, Carver’s brand new weight room is packed with students and alumni all week long,” said Athletic Director Cynthia Tyson. “It’s fantastic to see students enthusiastically come into school to collaborate in the weight room with peers and educators – all working to improve.”

The $500,000 in facilities grants expands Under Armour’s steadfast commitment to students in Baltimore City Public Schools – the company currently provides uniforms to every junior varsity & varsity athlete in every sport.

“Under Armour’s brand ethos is ‘WE WILL;’ a call that says together, as a community we can do incredible things. Whether in athletic competition, in the classroom or in day to day life, we believe it is critical to invest in spaces and people that make participation in sport possible,” said Stacey Ullrich, Senior Director, Global Philanthropy and Community Affairs at Under Armour. “As such, we are thrilled to be supporting such a range of meaningful school enhancement projects in Baltimore City that give students the environments necessary to reach and exceed their goals.”

The grants are managed by the Fund for Educational Excellence, a local non-profit working to access resources, identify and accelerate solutions, and recognize excellence to provide an equitable education for all children in Baltimore City Public Schools.

Photo courtesy of Under Armour from a renovation Under Armour volunteers performed at Thomas Johnson Elementary Middle School in 2017