Photo Courtesy of Shawn Hubbard, Baltimore Ravens Photos
A bold new chapter in West Baltimore’s story unfolded yesterday with the grand opening of the Baltimore Ravens Boys & Girls Club at the Hilton Recreation Center. A first-of-its-kind collaboration between the Baltimore Ravens, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Baltimore (BGCMB), Steve and Renee Bisciotti Foundation, and Under Armour. The project represents years of vision, partnership, and purpose coming together to provide a state-of-the-art community space for local youth and families. Manis, Canning & Associates (MCA) is proud to represent the above-mentioned partners in this remarkable effort to strengthen community connection, opportunity, and legacy.
What began as former Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith’s dream of giving his LEVEL82 Foundation a true home has blossomed into a multi-million-dollar investment in Baltimore’s future. When Smith first visited the long-shuttered Hilton Recreation Center six years ago he saw potential, and that spark set in motion a collaboration that would rally local leaders, philanthropists, and corporate partners behind a shared vision.
That shared vision expanded under Ravens Owner Steve Bisciotti and the Bisciotti Foundation, whose $20 million commitment transformed Smith’s dream into a community cornerstone. Bisciotti explained that his decision to make such a significant commitment stemmed from hearing countless players share that without after-school programs like the Boys & Girls Club, they might never have made it as far as they did. Together with Under Armour, BGCMB, and Green Street Academy, the revitalized Hilton Recreation Center now features a full-sized Under Armour gymnasium, tutoring and mentoring spaces, a fitness center, community gathering areas, and the new Dick Cass Field! The turf field is a multi-purpose athletic field honoring the former Ravens president’s leadership and service to Baltimore.
“This Club represents the very best of what can happen when our city, local organizations, and private partners come together with a shared vision,” said Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, who called the new center a “game-changer for West Baltimore families.” With more than 252,000 Maryland children lacking access to programs like this, the Ravens Boys & Girls Club stands as a model for what’s possible when sports, philanthropy, and local partnerships work hand in hand. MCA celebrates this milestone alongside our clients and partners, whose commitment to Baltimore’s youth will echo for generations to come.
Transformative Baltimore Ravens Boys & Girls Club Opens in West Baltimore
