Park Heights Renaissance Names Recipients of George E. Mitchell Grant

Park Heights Renaissance, the non-profit organization shaping the future of the Park Heights community, has announced Dayspring, Inc., Catherine’s Family and Youth Services and BSPIRIT as the recipients of its second-annual George E. Mitchell Community Fellowship Grant. The winners were selected from a competitive field of applicants that submitted original projects designed to address a specific social or economic challenge of one or more of the priority areas identified in the Park Heights Master Plan. Each of the innovative projects will receive $10,000 to provide an array of services to the Park Heights community.

Dayspring, Inc. provides support to teen growth and development through its BRIDGES programming for middle and high school girls. The program facilitators function as “bridges” to success for the teens. After program completion, participants have the opportunity to become facilitators for future teens entering the program.

“Dayspring, Inc. is ecstatic about receiving the GEM award in support of our BRIDGES program that leads teen girls in our community on a journey of self-discovery guided by caring, female professionals who are models of success and can help provide the support that teen girls need to overcome everyday challenges to healthy physical, social, emotional, academic and spiritual development,” said Dayspring, Inc. president and co-founder, Dr. Linda Gorham.

Catherine’s Family and Youth Services has a mission to improve the quality of life of residents in the Park Heights community. The project plans to expand its meal distribution services and its provision of essential support items to individuals, families and children. Its motto reads, “Leave no stone unturned.”

“We are so grateful and honored to be selected as a recipient of the second-annual George E. Mitchell Grant in Park Heights. Catherine’s Family and Youth Services Inc. plans to utilize these funds to expand our food pantry services by purchasing a vehicle to mobilize and enhance the quality of food and essentials we provide to hundreds of children, families and older adults within the Park Heights community and surrounding areas,” says Valarie Matthews, executive director and co-founder of Catherine’s Family and Youth Services. “It is truly a blessing that we will be able to continue evolving and growing our food pantry and diaper hub right here at the footsteps of residents.”

BSPIRIT’s goal is to teach young adults, primarily males, how to engage with their community by focusing on good citizenship. The project is designed as an after-school program and will present a capstone event for the community allowing participants to showcase their learnings.

“We are grateful to be recipients of the George E. Mitchell Park Heights Community Fellowship Grant. BSPIRIT’s goal is to continue to honor Mr. Mitchell's vision by giving our youth the tools they need to be successful leaders in the Park Heights community and in life. We are also thankful to Park Heights Renaissance for its diligence in ensuring that the community continues to have the opportunity to grow and thrive,” said Nargas Hyman, executive director of BSPIRIT.

The Fellowship Grant was created to honor the legacy of George E. Mitchell, who, prior to his unfortunate passing in July 2020, served as a fierce advocate for members of the Park Heights community. The winner of last year’s inaugural grant was Plantation Park Heights Urban Farm’s Project Access, which supports the sustainability of urban agriculture curriculum in local elementary schools.

“George Mitchell constantly focused on the success of the Park Heights community and improving the quality of life for our friends and neighbors. This year, we were inspired by the submissions and wanted to broaden the capacity of these great organizations to further our vision of a Bold New Heights. As such, we decided to fund three organizations this year to deepen the impact of programming to residents in Park Heights,” said Yolanda Jiggetts, executive director of Park Heights Renaissance.

The Fellowship Grant was established to inspire Park Heights leaders to imagine and implement a creative and public-facing community service project, to motivate role models for youth within Park Heights, to deepen the bonds of community unity and to embolden social entrepreneurial enterprises that seek an improvement in the wellbeing of Park Heights residents.

“It was an honor to speak with all the participants in this process. These three outstanding organizations are all productive Park Heights advocates that will exhibit astounding works within the community”, said Kevin Seawright, chair of Park Heights Renaissance’s board of directors.

Priority project areas of the Park Heights Master Plan include youth engagement and safety, community leadership and training, economic growth for businesses, reentry and returning citizens, workforce development and skills training, social enterprise development, food access solutions, affordable housing and housing opportunities for vulnerable populations and social determinants of health.

“Mr. Mitchell’s contributions to our city and commitment to his community not only inspired me as a young man growing up in Park Heights, but touched generations of Park Heights residents,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “I can think of no better way to honor his legacy than by empowering those who are working day in and day out to push our community towards a better, brighter future.”

1/ST RACING and the Maryland Jockey Club honored the legacy of George E. Mitchell with the renaming and introduction of The George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (GII) during Preakness 145. Continuing its commitment to recognize Mr. Mitchell’s contributions each year during the Preakness weekend celebration, and as part of 1/ST RACING and the Maryland Jockey Club’s partnership with the Park Heights Renaissance, the recipients of the George E. Mitchell Fellowship Grant will be recognized prior to the running of The George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (GII) on Friday, May 20, 2022. After the race, members of the Mitchell family will join leaders from Park Heights and other City and State officials to present the trophy to the winning connections of the 98th running of the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes graded stakes race.

For more information on Park Heights Renaissance, please visit www.boldnewheights.org. For more information on the Fellowship Grant, visit http://boldnewheights.org/community-grants/.

About Park Heights Renaissance, Inc.

Park Heights Renaissance (PHR) is a convener of solutions that provides strategic direction for the community we serve. We are leaders whose activities are grounded in grassroots organizing. We push for a seat at the table so our community members can participate in high-level decision-making.

About The Stronach Group and 1/ST

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The company's consumer facing brand 1/ST (pronounced "First") powers The Stronach Group's forward-thinking 1/ST RACING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY, 1/ST EXPERIENCE, and 1/ST PROPERTIES businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group's continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred horse racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING drives the best-in- class horse racing operations at the company's premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, Gulfstream Park West and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); the Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course - home of the legendary Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the newly formed operating group for 1/ST's media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, GWS and XBTV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is horse racing's largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST EXPERIENCE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality through innovative content development, elevated national and local venue management and hospitality, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and procurement development. 1/ST PROPERTIES is responsible for the development of the company's live, work and play communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group's commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred horse racing on and off the track. For more information, please visit www.1st.com.

About the Maryland Jockey Club

Established in 1743, the Maryland Jockey Club was founded over 30 years before the start of the Revolutionary War and is chartered as the oldest sporting organization in North America. Maryland’s “gem,” the Maryland Jockey Club is the premier sports and entertainment destination for world-class Thoroughbred horse racing between Baltimore, MD, and Washington, D.C. Maryland Jockey Club operates Pimlico Race Course – home of the world- famous Preakness Stakes – and Laurel Park Race Course. For more information, please visit www.marylandjockeyclub.com.