Press Release

September 24, 2008
CARDIN, MIKULSKI CELEBRATE $3 MILLION FOR CAL RIPKEN FOUNDATION MENTORING PROGRAMS


WASHINGTON –
U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and
Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation has received $3 million from the Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
  This grant was administered through a competitive process based on the funding allocated by the Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee, which Senator Mikulski chairs.



 


“I am committed to providing resources to programs like the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, which works hard to help at-risk youths succeed,” said
Senator Cardin.  “We all benefit when at-risk youths stay in school, develop confidence and skills and stay away from destructive behavior.  I commend the Ripken Foundation for all it has done to ensure that these young people develop healthy choices.” 



 



 “I believe in putting money in the federal checkbook to create an investment in organizations like the Cal Ripken Foundation, which provides mentoring programs to help children learn and grow in a safe environment.
  We know that prevention and intervention programs targeting at-risk youth are a critical tool in changing the direction in the lives of young people,” said
Senator Mikulski.
  “This national program not only provides activities and services, but role models like Baltimore’s Cal Ripken, Jr., who can truly make a difference.”



 


The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation (CRSF), headquartered in Baltimore, Md., is a 501c(3) non-profit corporation, working throughout the country with local organizations and inner-city schools serving America’s most distressed communities.  The foundation is a supporting partner to those organizations who, on a daily basis, play such a critical role in developing, inspiring and saving young lives.



 


CRSF will use these funds to support their Ripken Badges for Baseball program, which helps at-risk youth stay in school, away from negative peer groups and off harmful substances.
  The program combines character education with healthy activity while engaging volunteers and law officers as mentors to foster positive relationships between youth and police.
  More than 600 youth will attend CRSFs Summer Youth Experience and more than 30,000 children will be engaged in the Ripken Badges for Baseball program.



 


CJS Chairwoman Mikulski and CJS Ranking Member Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) have been long-time advocates for national mentoring programs with proven records of success, and fought to include $1 million for CRSF’s mentoring programs in the fiscal year 2009 CJS spending bill.
  The bill passed the Appropriations Committee, but has not received a vote in the Senate.

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