Green Sports Day: Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens' #GamePlanEarth Initiative
GamePlanEarth (GPE) is a season-long environmental initiative established and led by the Ravens to help make Baltimore a more sustainable city. This program was created to further educate fans about growing environmental challenges and encourage them to recycle, reuse and conserve. On Aug. 28, Ravens staff members joined forces with The 6th Branch, a veteran-led neighborhood development organization, to clear vacant lots and refurbish an abandoned neighborhood garden. Volunteer work included tasks ranging from basic landscaping to removing fencing, trash, concrete, bricks and overgrowth. GamePlanEarth is an extension of the organization’s continued efforts to reinforce M&T Bank Stadium’s LEED Gold Certification, a designation given to organizations that strive to deliver healthy, environmental-friendly, cost-saving and energy-and water-efficient operating buildings in the community. Recently, the Under Armour Performance Center’s new north wing achieved the prestigious LEED Gold level certification, further cementing the Ravens’ dedication and determination to being leaders in sustainability. GamePlanEarth week also saw the opening of the fifth annual GamePlanEarth Ambassador Award applications, a program that recognizes and highlights a Baltimore-area school that has implemented environmental initiatives and is a leader in the community. The winner will receive a $2,500 grant.
Bike Party
For the last five years, GPE has played an important role in the Baltimore Ravens organization. As they have done for the past several years, the Ravens ended GPE week by co-hosting a Purple Friday Baltimore Bike Party on Aug. 31. This event was created to encourage bike riding as an eco-friendly form of transportation in the city. Bike Party’s mission is Ride, Respect, Revelry. Riders were encouraged to ride right, be respectful of all Baltimoreans, revel in the joy of Bike Party and wear purple to support the Ravens. Ravens staff were on hand to distribute team souvenirs to all the riders and cheer them on from start to finish.
Trash Pick-up
Prior to the start of the Ravens-Redskins game on Aug. 30, the Baltimore Union Youth Girls Soccer Team (below) collected recyclable materials in tailgate Lots B/C as part of the Ravens’ GPE initiative. The team also used this time to educate fans on the benefits of recycling and sustainability. These girls took to heart the GPE mission and set out to tackle their project. Becoming the MVPs of the night, the team stayed out until the start of the game, collecting items throughout all stadium parking lots and along RavensWalk The Baltimore Union Youth Girls Soccer Team competes competitively in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
