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In a press conference at Oriole Park prior to today's game against the Boston Red Sox, OriolesREACH and Baltimore City Public Schools announced that they have teamed up to support education initiatives for the city's youth. The highlight of the joint venture is a new integrated summer learning curriculum based on Orioles baseball. City School CEO ANDRÉS A. ALONSO made today's announcement about the partnership, which also includes Orioles game ticket donations, pre-game ceremony recognition at Camden Yards for outstanding City Schools students and teachers, and player and Oriole Bird appearances at City Schools.

Nearly 14,000 students at 84 city public elementary and middle schools in summer learning will be taught math, reading, science and social studies skills during 20 hours of activities as outlined in the Learning With the Orioles curriculum, which was written by City Schools teachers and Child First Authority Inc. curriculum specialists. Learning With the Orioles blends skills from each academic discipline for each grade level with facts and games related to the Orioles and baseball in general. It represents a new style of curriculum for City Schools, one that integrates several different academic subjects into a program that is educational, fun and includes enrichment activities, including a visit to Camden Yards at the end of the summer session, which runs from June 29 through July 24.

"Learning With the Orioles both enhances the educational experience of our students and points up the important role our partners can play in transforming City Schools into an entire system of great schools," Dr. Alonso said. "Curriculum experts from City Schools and Child First are collaborating to develop relevant, rigorous curriculum for our kids that, with the help of the Orioles, is also engaging and fun. It's great all around."

The Orioles have already provided over 5,000 complimentary tickets to City Schools. Nearly 2,000 City Schools students working with the Learning With the Orioles curriculum will attend the July 10 Orioles game, where they will receive recognition for their participation. The students in Child First's after-school program attended the May 27 Orioles game, and 150 City Schools students joined Dr. Alonso at today's game against the Red Sox.

"We are proud to partner with the Baltimore City Public Schools," said Greg Bader, Orioles Director of Communications. "The Baltimore Orioles have always believed in the importance of being actively involved in our community, and the opportunity to use Orioles baseball as a learning tool for our city's students and provide them with the chance to experience the excitement of a game at Camden Yards is a great way for the club to help lay the groundwork for the success of the next generation."

Current and former players and the Orioles Bird have also made appearances at schools in Baltimore city, and the club has recognized outstanding City Schools teachers and students in pre-game ceremonies at Camden Yards. Dr. Alonso, City Schools teachers and students participated in a pre-game ceremony today recognizing the partnership and Dr. Alonso threw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to today's game.