Philanthropy Tank to Host First In-Person Event in Baltimore

Area students will present social impact program ideas and
receive up to $15,000 and mentorship at June 14 event

BALTIMORE – Philanthropy Tank Baltimore, a nonprofit organization that empowers and equips 8^th to 11^th grade students with mentorship and funding so that they may address social issues in their own communities through creative social impact programs, announced today its third group of changemakers and details of its Finals Event at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel in Pikesville on June 14 – the first in-person event since launching in Baltimore in 2020. During the event, the student changemakers will present their ideas to a panel of Philanthropist Mentors and will receive up to $15,000 in funding as well as mentorship to help bring their ideas to life.

“The Philanthropy Tank model is innovative and helps set students up to succeed,” said Nakeia C. Jones, Philanthropy Tank’s chief program officer. “We’ve seen students thrive as leaders when given the support funding and mentorship support and so we’re looking forward to introducing our third group of finalists and seeing what change they make in their communities.”

Following a call for submissions in late 2022, students submitted their ideas and a conceptualized program to Philanthropy Tank for consideration. Over the next several months, the applications were reviewed by a committee comprised of Philanthropy Tank alumni and Philanthropist Mentors. Out of the applications submitted, the following five groups of students will present their ideas on June 14:

Bmore Fresh will focus on bringing fresh, locally sourced produce to food deserts around Baltimore City through the renovation of a used MTA bus and partnerships with urban farmers. The program is led by a group of four eighth graders from New Song Academy: Samjh Chestnut, Aniya Ponton, Logan Reynolds and Ryeona Watson.

Bmore Youth Notes aims to address the limited music programs in the area by working with students interested in learning how to play instruments or strengthening skills through after-school and weekend programming. The program is led by Wild Lake High School Sophomore Koryn Sanders.

SparkED will create a digital platform that allows students to find youth-centered programs, resources and opportunities that meet their interests, but they otherwise would have trouble finding through a traditional search or word of mouth. The program is led by Eastern Technical High School Junior Chiemela Nwokoro.

The Backyard will focus on creating livable green spaces in West Baltimore’s Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood starting with the renovation of a vacant lot into a space for neighbors to gather, host events and provide a safe space of enjoyment and pride. The program is led by a group of three eighth graders from New Song Academy: Isaiah Dixon, Jordan Hackett and Jerell Williams.

The Environauts aims to teachyoung students in an after-school-based program about their environment and how to sustain it. Topics include composting, recycling, solar energy and more. The program is led by Roland Park Country School Junior Phoebe Taylor.

In addition to funding support, each program is matched with a mentor to help launch and implement its social impact program. The Philanthropist Mentors, all of whom have a connection to the Baltimore community through work or volunteer experience, play an essential role in each of the student-led program’s successes. This year’s mentors include Jennifer Grondahl, senior vice president of community development and communications at the Baltimore Orioles; Beth Littrell, senior director of community engagement and volunteerism at the United Way of Central Maryland; Kevin Logan, investigator, Howard County Office of Human Rights and Equity; and Katie Truitt, assistant director of special events and engagement at the United Way of Central Maryland.

“I’m so happy to have been introduced to the innovative work that Philanthropy Tank is doing with Baltimore’s youth,” said Grondahl. “The programs selected have a lot of promise and you can tell the amount of thought that went into these ideas to help improve their own communities. I’m excited to see them present in June and then have the privilege of working with them to bring their ideas to life.”

Philanthropy Tank Baltimore is made possible by a group of local Philanthropist Investors including David Swirnow of Swirnow Building Systems, Leslie Schaller of Footlick Foundation, the United Way of Central Maryland, the Baltimore Orioles, and a group of founding partners that include Alliance Bernstein, Allegis Group, David and Beth Swirnow, Fader Innovation Center, Footlick Family Foundation, T. Rowe Price Foundation and Whiting Turner. WJZ-TV CBS Baltimore will also serve as this year’s media sponsor.

Philanthropy Tank as a whole, between its work in Baltimore and Palm Beach County, Florida, have helped launch 70 student-led programs, awarded $700,000 in funding to help support them and worked with over 1,000 teens, helping to shape their leadership paths and through their creative solutions, help address and improve social issues in the community.

Learn more about Philanthropy Tank at philanthropytank.org/baltimore and register to attend the first in-person finals event on June 14 here.