Back in November, the Ravens committed $1 million to renovate Renaissance Academy in West Baltimore.
The school and the surrounding area has been wrought with violence, including a stabbing incident where a student died. Ravens owner Steve Biscotti reached out to the team's president Dick Cass to see how they could help.
"He decided it was something where he could maybe help," Cass said. "He saw the fact that the students and the school community were keenly interested in keeping the school open. He was also very interested in the mentoring program at the school, Seeds of Promise, which was started by the school's principal. He saw all of those factors and thought, 'This school should remain open, if we can make it happen.'"
Cass worked with Baltimore City Schools CEO Sonja Santelises to find a way to keep the school open. After the initial investment, the Ravens committed an additional $500,000 to keep the school open. The renovations will include a new entrance to the school, as well as a new science room, art room and space designed to host special events.
The Ravens also pledged $75,000 to help fund the Seeds of Promise program.
