The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation (CRSF) continues to make a positive impact in the communities it serves through a variety of initiatives, including the opening of 107 Youth Development Parks (YDP) nationwide. Maroon PR is proud to be the foundation’s agency of record since our business began in 2006 and assist in their efforts to publicize their initiatives and milestones.

One such milestone was reached April 22 as CRSF opened their 107th YDP, the 12th in partnership with Group 1001, and the very first Youth Development Park in the nation located on the grounds of a police department. To highlight this momentous opening, the Maroon PR team was tasked with leading earned media efforts for the park’s ribbon cutting ceremony.

With key stakeholders speaking at the ceremony including Hall of Famer and CRSF Co-Founder Cal Ripken, Jr., Maryland’s Governor Larry Hogan, and Group 1001 CEO Dan Towriss, MPR coordinated and secured media coverage across seven broadcast outlets in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. markets as well as various online, print and radio outlets.

The $1.2M, 55,000 square-foot youth baseball field located on the grounds of the Prince George’s County Police Department, will be home to various afterschool programs and sports for the Prince George’s County Police Activities League and the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington, positively impacting over 800 kids each year.

Malik Aziz, Chief of Police for the Prince George’s County Police Department said, “This is a wonderful thing for the children of our county. We have been engaged with our area youth through the Ripken Foundation’s terrific Badges for Baseball program for over nine years, and to now have this park brings the relationship full circle and allows us to lay down even deeper roots with our community.”

Key Coverage:

WUSA9 – Cal Ripken Jr. joins Gov. Hogan to open youth baseball field in Prince George’s County

WMAR 2 News – The Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation adds another park in Maryland to help serve kids

WJZ – Hogan & Ripken Celebrate New Park In Prince George’s County

WTOP Radio- Cal Ripken opens new baseball field at old Prince George’s Co. police headquarters