Transforming Communities, Changing Kids' Lives
ABOUT USHealing Through Discovery: A Pioneering New STEM Center
October 2, 2024
Melanie O'Brien, Regional Manager of Corporate Responsibility for Southwest Airlines, manages the charitable and civic partnerships in Southwest Airlines' Baltimore, Chicago, New York, and Washington, D.C. markets. She is a dedicated Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation Board member who believes in providing access and equity to children in underserved communities throughout the U.S.
As a steward of philanthropic efforts for Southwest Airlines,
O'Brien identifies charitable partners whose missions align with Southwest's focus on building a diverse talent pipeline/workforce for the aviation industry which includes STEM education, career readiness, and leadership skills. In 2023, Southwest Airlines sponsored our Student STEM Challenge, an annual competition for students participating in the Ripken Foundation's national STEM program, which uses real-world problems to encourage students to apply STEM skills and knowledge to develop innovative solutions. Today, we have over 600 completed STEM Centers in 25 states, impacting over 250,000 elementary and middle school students. "The Ripken Foundation's STEM Center program is training young minds to be the future generation of pilots, engineers, scientists, and mechanics. It exposes them to all that is possible while creating equity and access to STEM-related careers," says O'Brien.
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n addition, since 2011 Southwest Airlines has supported the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation's overnight Summer Camp program by providing round-trip airfare for the hundreds of at-risk youth who attend the camp each year. At the Ripken Summer Camp, underserved kids from across the country interact with their peers and caring adult mentors who reinforce important life skills like teamwork, communication, and respect. "We try to look at different ways to impact communities we serve. Southwest is the first flight for many of these children that we help bring to the Ripken Summer Camp in Aberdeen, MD. We are creating life experiences that will shape who they are in the future," says O'Brien.
The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation is so proud to have such an invested partner in Southwest Airlines and so grateful for their support. To learn more about our programming or to help us impact more kids in underserved communities, visit www.ripkenfoundation.org.
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Reach and Impact
Reach & Impact
In 2023-24, the Ripken Foundation collaborated with 824 local youth-serving partners and law enforcement agencies in 331 cities and towns in 43 states, Washington, D.C., and U.S. Virgin Islands to impact over 1.4 million at-risk youth. The Ripken Foundation Portal, which gives mentors access to our program curriculum guides, impacted 495,252 of those at-risk youth. In addition, we now have 604 STEM Centers completed in 25 states giving over 260,000 kids the early exposure and hands-on opportunity to explore Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
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Mentoring
Mentoring
In 2023, over 25,000 coaches, law enforcement officers, teachers, volunteers, and other youth mentors worked with the kids in our programs. Badges for Baseball, our signature crime prevention and mentoring program, impacted 30,289 kids in 122 communities.
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Youth Development Parks
Youth Development Parks
We’re adding more of our signature Youth Development Parks every year—creating safe places to play and renewing community pride.
Score Big with Our Resource Portal
Create your free account to access a stellar lineup of positive youth development resources. You will find easy-to-use training materials, videos, and other tools to help coaches and mentors make a lasting difference.
Testimonials
We love to hear how the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation has positively impacted the lives of our mentors and at-risk youth. If you have a positive experience with the Foundation that you would like to share, please submit a story. You might be featured below or on our social media outlets!
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“”I remember meeting Ernie Graham on the second day of the CRSF Summer Camp and listening to the story he told us about how he went from rags to riches to rags. I can honestly say that the summer camp was the reason I came back to school and decided to become a smart athlete.
Cornell PowellFormer Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation Summer Camp Participant -
“”The Badges for Baseball program was a 100% law enforcement participation program and the kids that participated were at-risk kids who would never speak or communicate with the police. That has changed drastically, these kids now run up to the police cruisers and they want to talk to the police.
Sgt. Randy ShawStafford County, Virginia -
“”The Badges for Baseball program has yielded results that were unforeseen. The relationships made will be lifelong and the Green Bay Police Department is eager to continue on with the program.
Officer Kevin WarychGreen Bay Police Department -
“”This CRSF camp trip was packed with “first’s” for most of the members that joined me: it was the first time these members traveled out of state and for some, the first time at a baseball camp. Although the camp was loaded with memories, what stuck with my group of boys the most was the bonding they had with our roommates after all the activities were done.
BJ KolbBoys and Girls Club of Green Bay -
“”I can remember back to my first day in the Badges for Baseball program. The police officers were amazing, coming out to all the practices and games. They had a big influence on me, and because of them, I am now studying to become a police officer at Fox Valley Tech in Appleton, Wisconsin. It wouldn’t have been possible without Badges for Baseball.
Alex StewardFormer Badges for Baseball Participant -
“”I have seen students come out of their shells, they are answering questions, they are building relationships with police officers and it is a very positive program in the schools.
Tricia WinklerPrincipal, Lima South Science-Technology Magnet -
“”Although our gym can be quite chaotic during the Badges for Baseball program, it has been rewarding to see the kids practice sportsmanship and leadership during games. I've had multiple students ask me, ‘Can we come back every day?’ It's questions like those that make all the chaos worthwhile.
Carrie MarshMentor, Y of Central Maryland
Sponsors
The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation is grateful for the support of the generous sponsors who share our vision and make our work possible.
