The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation (CRSF) and Exelon Foundation today held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Lansdowne Middle School in Baltimore to launch a state-of-the-art STEM center and celebrate the beginning of a three-year educational initiative between the foundations.
The Lansdowne Middle School STEM center opening marks the first of 81 STEM centers that the $3M partnership with Exelon will open. Centers will open in areas around Atlantic City, N.J., Baltimore, Chicago, Philadelphia, Wilmington, DE, and Washington, D.C.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony included guest speakers Cal Ripken, Jr., MLB Hall of Famer and co-founder of the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, Calvin Butler, President and CEO of Exelon, and officials from Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS). Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, students participated in STEM demonstrations in the new space.
Today’s opening also marks the 500th STEM center for the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, spanning 23 states and servicing over 190,000 youth across the country.
“This is all about providing resources that will help kids learn,” said Cal Ripken, Jr. “It’s hard to believe that we have opened 500 STEM Centers across the country. This is only accomplished through strong partnerships and Calvin and Exelon are partners and friends. Their generosity makes a real difference in so many communities nationwide.”
The partnership takes the Exelon Foundation and CRSF’s STEM initiatives to new heights with the inclusion of three new states – Illinois, New Jersey, and Delaware, with openings in each state slated for later this year. BGE is funding four additional CRSF STEM centers, one of which opened in November 2023 at Aberdeen Middle School, Aberdeen, Md.
“We know the value of students gaining knowledge, skills, and confidence in the areas of coding and engineering, which are particularly important to us in the energy industry,” said Calvin Butler, President and CEO of Exelon, the nation’s largest energy delivery company and the parent company of BGE. “We are thrilled to partner with CRSF and help develop the next generation of STEM experts and the future energy workforce.”
The Exelon Foundation is not new to working in the STEM arena. Since 2018, the Exelon Foundation has operated a free, week-long STEM Academy experience for 10th and 11th grade girls from under-resourced communities each summer in the Chicago, Philadelphia and Baltimore, and Washington, D.C., metro areas. In 2024, the Exelon Foundation will be expanding its free STEM Academy to include an all-male academy with students representing each of the four regions where the STEM Academy currently operates.
“Thanks to the generous donation from the Exelon Foundation, we’re able to bring a STEM center to 81 elementary and middle schools in the next three years,” said Steve Salem, President and CEO, Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation. “We are overjoyed to continue our relationship with Exelon, under Calvin’s leadership. Their generous gift symbolizes a commitment to provide a cohesive STEM education program that we know will make a difference.”
Today’s ribbon-cutting celebration kicks off the three-year initiative to install fully equipped STEM centers in 81 elementary and middle schools.
Here are the 27 Exelon/CRSF STEM center locations opening in 2024:
Salem Middle School Salem, N.J. Atlantic City Electric
Pleasantville Middle School Pleasantville, N.J. Atlantic City Electric
Corkran Middle Glen Burnie, Md. BGE
Marley Middle Glen Burnie, Md. BGE
Meade Middle Fort Meade, Md. BGE
Lansdowne Middle Baltimore BGE
Edgewood Middle Edgewood, Md. BGE
Oakland Mills Middle Columbia, Md. BGE
Tayac Elementary School Fort Washington, Md. Pepco
Odessa Shannon Middle School Silver Spring, Md. Pepco
Excel Academy Washington, D.C. Pepco
Maternity B.V.M School Chicago ComEd
McDade Chicago ComEd
Sumner Math and Science Academy Chicago ComEd
Bednarcik Junior High Chicago ComEd
Kennedy Middle School Kankakee, Ill. ComEd
Most Blessed Trinity Academy Waukegan, Ill. ComEd
Thurgood Marshall Rockford, Ill. ComEd
AI Dupont Middle School Wilmington, Del. Delmarva Power
Academia Antonia Alonso Charter School Newark, Del. Delmarva Power
Tinicum School Essington, Pa. PECO
Saint Aloysius Parish School Pottstown, Pa PECO
Scott Sixth Grade Center Coatesville, Pa. PECO
Delta-Peach Bottom Elementary Delta, Pa. PECO
Feltonville School of Arts & Sciences Philadelphia PECO
Avery Harrington Philadelphia PECO
Robert K. Shafer Middle School Bensalem, Pa. PECO
About the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation
The Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation (CRSF) helps to strengthen America’s most underserved and distressed communities by supporting and advocating for children, building Youth Development Parks and STEM Centers, partnering with law enforcement and youth-service agencies, and addressing community needs through its national program initiatives. CRSF has opened 500 STEM Centers nationwide, gifting children in communities across the country a new access to state-of-the-art technology, hands-on learning experiences, and skill sets essential to the future of STEM.
About the Exelon Foundation
The Exelon Foundation is an independent, nonprofit organization funded solely by Exelon Corporation through shareholder dollars. The mission of the Foundation is to encourage respect for the environment, support innovative STEM education programs and strengthen the social and economic fabric of the community by providing a match to Exelon employee contributions.
About Baltimore County Public Schools
Baltimore County Public Schools, the nation’s 22nd largest school system, engages and empowers its talented students, teachers, staff, and stakeholders and strives to build an innovative and collaborative learning community where all students excel and reach their highest potential.
About Exelon
Exelon (Nasdaq: EXC) is a Fortune 250 company and the nation’s largest utility company, serving more than 10.5 million customers through six fully regulated transmission and distribution utilities — Atlantic City Electric (ACE), Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE), Commonwealth Edison (ComEd), Delmarva Power & Light (DPL), PECO Energy Company (PECO), and Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco). More than 19,500 Exelon employees dedicate their time and expertise to supporting our communities through reliable, affordable and efficient energy delivery, workforce development, equity, economic development and volunteerism. Follow Exelon on X, @Exelon.
To learn more about our STEM Center initiative, click here.