9-09-2026 4:33am

Cal's 25 Years

Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation and BCPS announce 3 new STEM Centers

Expansion brings the total number of STEM Centers in BCPS schools to 24

The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation (CRSF), in partnership with Baltimore County Public Schools, announced the addition of new state-of-the-art STEM Centers at Cedarmere, Dogwood, and Featherbed Lane elementary schools. The new state-of-the-art STEM Centers are part of CRSF’s National STEM Center Initiative and will increase the total number of STEM Centers in BCPS schools to 24.

Through its National STEM Center Initiative, the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation has opened more than 850 STEM Centers nationwide, providing students across the country with access to education, technology, and resources designed to develop skills in science, technology, engineering, and math, and introducing students to educational and career opportunities in STEM fields.

Images from the grand opening of Ripken STEM Center at Lansdowne Middle School, April 2024

“Baltimore County Public Schools has been an important partner in our work to create more opportunities for students,” said Steve Salem, president and CEO of CRSF. “We are honored to continue this partnership and to see more students have the opportunity to explore their interests, build skills and develop confidence through hands-on learning.”

CRSF and BCPS are exploring the potential to add six more STEM Centers during the 2026–2027 school year. BCPS schools can apply now to be considered. The application window closes on Friday, April 30, 2027.

About Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation

The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation (CRSF), which is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2026, 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 more than 868 STEM Centers nationwide, gifting children in communities across the country new access to state-of-the-art technology, hands-on learning experiences, and skill sets essential to the future of STEM.

Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr. at the opening of the Lansdowne Middle School STEM Center, April 2024

Twenty five years of building brighter futures, starting in Baltimore.

The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation was founded by the Ripken family to carry forward Cal Ripken, Sr.’s belief that every young person deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed. What began as sports based youth mentoring has grown into a national leader in STEM education and career readiness, reaching 1.6 million kids a year.

Guided by Cal, Sr.’s values and championed by Hall of Famer and Baltimore icon Cal Ripken, Jr., the Foundation has completed 880 STEM Centers across 30 states, including more than 200 in Maryland. Each one gives students a hands on space to explore science, technology, engineering, and math while building the critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and problem solving skills tomorrow’s workforce demands.

From Baltimore neighborhoods to communities across the country, that legacy of leadership keeps growing.

Interested in bringing a CRSF STEM Center to your community? Contact Elise Lee at elee@ripkenfoundation.org.

About The Education Foundation of BCPS, Inc.

The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, Inc., was founded on October 26, 1992, as the official 501 (c) (3) nonprofit for Baltimore County Public Schools. The foundation is on a mission to contribute to a brighter future as a champion of the system and community through advocacy, fundraising, and programming. We believe that together, with our community partners, we can ensure that every student, educator, and school community has the resources necessary to reach their full potential.

BCPS is the 22nd largest school system in the nation with 108,000 students and 8,000 educators in 174 schools, centers, and programs. Our students and their families come from 138 countries and speak more than 150 languages. The racial breakdown of our students follows: 40% are African American; 29% are white; 18% are Hispanic/Latino; 7% are Asian; 5% are more than one race; <1% are American Indian; and <1% are Pacific Islander. More than 50% of our students come from lower socioeconomic families, and 15% require special education services.

Since 2010, the foundation has provided 987 scholarships for graduating seniors for a total of $798,095. Since 2012, the foundation has awarded 743 school and office-based grants and special projects to enhance the regular curricula for a total of $1,540,315. Since 2018, the foundation has operated two educator resource centers (the Exchangerees) where teachers shop for school supplies, books, winter accessories and more, at no cost to them. The Exchangerees have served 20,705 educators and 540,310 students, shared 102,036 books, and distributed $4,789,503 worth of resources and materials into our school communities.

Visit our website for more information.