Transforming Communities, Changing Kids' Lives
ABOUT USPermian Strategic Partnership: Amplifying Impact Through Collaboration
By Lily Baughan
August 18, 2024
Partnerships are crucial to furthering the mission of our Foundation as they enhance our ability to achieve our goals and amplify our impact. Through collaboration, we pool our strengths, leading to innovative solutions, elevated program outcomes, and increased funding opportunities. Our partnership with the Permian Strategic Partnership (PSP) has been vital for the growth, resilience, and success of our STEM programming in the Permian Basin. Thanks to the dedication of PSP led by CEO and Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation Board member Tracee Bentley, we have made great strides in spreading STEM education to underserved youth across the country.
As a part of a five-year, $7.5 
million partnership with PSP, spanning 2022-2026, we will install 134 STEM Centers in every elementary school across the Permian Basin. This project covers 75,000 square miles in 22 counties in West Texas and New Mexico, impacting over 60,000 students.
Bentley spoke at the Pease Elementary STEM Center Ribbon Cutting ceremony in 2022, highlighting the importance of our partnership. “Thanks to this collaboration, we can bring world-class instruction and educational resources to the students in the Permian Basin. Through project-based learning, students can apply what they’re learning in the classroom to real-world problems. It will not only teach them problem-solving skills, but also help them grow in learning, teamwork, successful communication, creativity, leadership and entrepreneurship,” said Bentley.
Thanks to this partnership, we also hosted our first STEM Summit at Odessa College in 2023. This event brought together over 80 experts, industry leaders, and educators to promote collaboration, innovation, and educational opportunities in the Permian Basin. The Summit aimed to inspire the next generation of STEM professionals, strengthening the region’s workforce, and fostering economic growth through technological advancements and educational initiatives. The Summit featured keynote speakers and panel discussions and provided educators with the opportunity to participate in workshops on various STEM disciplines and emerging technologies. These workshops also emphasized the importance of diversity and inclusion in STEM fields and facilitated networking and partnership opportunities. Due to the success of the event, we will host another STEM Summit in 2025 in partnership with PSP.
There is an urgent national priority to transform STEM learning and engagement to meet the nation’s need for a STEM-skilled workforce. To prepare youth in the Permian Basin for this growing market, we are creating 10 new lessons surrounding the oil and gas industry. Understanding these new STEM concepts can lead to innovative solutions and advancements within the industry. “The Permian Basin generates and sustains hundreds of thousands of jobs annually, supporting families and local businesses and driving economic growth across New Mexico and Texas. As a result, our region's education and workforce development needs are also growing,” said Bentley. Through our PSP-sponsored STEM initiative, we are better preparing youth to enter a dynamic industry and equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate and influence a critical sector.
In today’s rapidly evolving world, the role of education in shaping future leaders and innovators cannot be overstated. “The Permian Strategic Partnership believes in the power of education to transform lives and communities. Through our partnership with the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, we are empowering our community’s youth to apply science, technology, engineering, and math STEM skills and knowledge to develop innovative solutions and gain real-world experiences, ensuring their success upon graduation,” said Bentley. She continued, “We are proud to partner with the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation to help meet the needs of our community. Together, we are supporting students’ future success and contributing to our region's economic vitality.”
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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 560 STEM Centers completed in 24 states giving over 237,175 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.
