Sports

Ravens Nest 10 Gives $10K to Charities

The Severna Park fan club not only roots on its team, but also donates to local charities.

There's more to the Ravens Nest #10 of Severna Park than "purple fever" —their other color could be green, $10,000 dollar's worth—donated to five local charities on Wednesday night in a ceremony at  in Park Plaza. Each nonprofit received $2,000.

Accepting the check for the Muscular Dystrophy Association was Tricia Gibbons and her family. Gibbons' brother died of the disease in 2004. The donation will be given to the Johns Hopkins Hospital where a foundation is set up in his honor.

The Special Olympics Maryland, Anne Arundel County, represented by Gregg Meade, area director, accepted the donation while praising the Nest for its help, especially since the organization's biggest fundraiser, the golf tournament, didn't happen this year.

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"This donation is a huge help," Meade said, adding that every dime will go to purchasing uniforms, equipment and transportation to the athletes.

The Walter Reed Chaplains Fund, described by Cindy Pierce (aka The Purple Dame) as "a constant with the Nest" couldn't send a representative to accept the donation, so Pierce accepted on their behalf.

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The SPCA of Anne Arundel County, represented by Mindy Nelson, marketing and event coordinator for the shelter, also received a donation. Nelson thanked the Nest for "not only the donation, but for thinking of the animals looking for a family."

There are currently 100 dogs and 200 cats in need of homes at the shelter in Annapolis. "Whatever families can't take care of- we take," Nelson said. She also pointed out that many of the commercials for adoptions by other shelters are often confused with this SPCA of which there is no connection—nor any special funding.

The final beneficiary was the Hospice of the Chesapeake with Michael McHale, president and CEO, accepting the donation. He said the money will be designated to two new programs, the neo-natal and perinatal pediatrics programs the Hospice started in May and have already served 27 families.

"To have the money we raised go to charities that really need it is very satisfying," Johnnie Johnson, president of the Nest, said after the ceremony. The group holds raffles, autograph signings and a bull roast every year to raise money for local nonprofits.

The Ravens Nest #10 will be in full Ravens glory on Sunday beginning in the early afternoon at Bill Batemans, as they prepare for the 3 p.m. game vs. the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA.


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