Transforming Communities, Changing Kids' Lives
ABOUT USThe Kellys: The Power of Impact in the Community
July 9, 2024
Guided by a deep commitment to his community, his family, and his faith, Senator Frank Kelly, Jr. has carved a history of public service, business success, and civic involvement. In 1976, he and his wife, Janet, founded Kelly Benefits in their basement, which has grown to become one of the nation’s largest employee benefit administrators, brokers, consultants, and payroll providers. Today, their four sons, Frank III, John, David, and Bryan, oversee the organization and its subsidiaries and divisions.
As a former Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation Board Chairman and long-time Board member, Senator Kelly and his son, Board member Frank Kelly, III, have helped us to impact at-risk youth and create transformational change in underserved communities across the country. In 2010, as Board Chairman, Senator Kelly set a big goal to build 50 Youth Development Parks, multipurpose synthetic surface baseball fields, in five years. Today, the Ripken Foundation has 119 completed parks in 27 states, giving over 600,000 kids access to clean, safe places to play and learn. Senator Kelly and his family have supported many of the 19 Youth Development Parks built in Maryland, including two much-needed multipurpose fields in the Park Heights and Cherry Hill neighborhoods in Baltimore City.
"The Ripken Foundation impacts over 1.4 million kids each year, and we are so proud to be a partner in all of their programs on and off the playing fields that give kids opportunities," said Senator Frank Kelly, Jr.
Over the last 18 years, the Kellys have given us their time, talent, and treasure to set big goals for the Foundation to reach and accomplish. We are so honored that the Kellys selected us as one of their charitable partners.
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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 550 STEM Centers completed in 24 states giving over 233,235 kids the early exposure and hands-on opportunity to explore Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
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Mentoring
Mentoring
In 2023, 25,869 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!
Sponsors
The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation is grateful for the support of the generous sponsors who share our vision and make our work possible.