September 8, 2014 – The Baltimore Orioles raised more than $17,000 during an online auction to benefit the Fort Meade Alliance Foundation’s campaign to create a Resiliency Center at Fort George G. Meade.
The Orioles raised the funds through an auction of special team jerseys and caps worn during Military Appreciation Day on May 26th. The team’s uniform for the day included baseball caps featuring the orange oriole on a camouflage background and white jerseys with players’ names and numbers attached in camouflage. The items were autographed, authenticated and auctioned off online.
During a pre-game ceremony Aug. 31, the Orioles Reliever Zach Britton, along with the Orioles Bird presented a check for $17,124 to FMA Foundation President Deon Viergutz, FMA Foundation Treasurer Jay Baldwin and FMA General Manager Tim O’Ferrall to support the campaign. This is the third year the Major League Baseball team has donated to the Resiliency Center Fund. To date, the Orioles team has contributed more than $53,000 to the FMA Foundation.
“The Baltimore Orioles have been a true partner the last three years,” said Viergutz. “Through these donations, we are one step closer to providing essential services to military, their families and the civilian staff at Fort Meade.”
The Fort Meade Alliance Foundation established the Resiliency Center Fund to create a Resiliency Center at Fort Meade, which will provide services to support the five dimensions of resiliency: emotional, social, spiritual, family and physical. The Resiliency Center is expected to cost about $2 million.
“The Orioles are fortunate to be surrounded by dedicated military personnel throughout our region, including the many men and women at Fort Meade,” said Greg Bader, Orioles Vice President of Communications. “We greatly value our partnership with Fort Meade and hope that through our efforts we are able to provide assistance to the many deserving service members and their families.”
