In the heart of West Baltimore, KIPP's unwavering commitment to nurturing the next generation of leaders is more evident than ever. This year, our community has witnessed transformative achievements that underscore our shared vision: Every child grows up free to create the future they want for themselves and their communities.
The generosity of our community has been the driving force behind our ability to pursue ambitious improvements and expansions at KIPP Baltimore.
To house our new Pre-Kindergarten Program for 80 students – and with the incredible early support of our partners – we renovated space on our first floor to add four pre-kindergarten classrooms (Summer 2023). Our highly qualified KIPP teachers are committed to preparing our youngest learners to enter kindergarten with the critical literacy skills, practices, and mindset necessary to succeed. This program will better equip students entering kindergarten with the prerequisite skills, competencies, and confidence to benefit from rigorous literacy instruction at or above kindergarten grade level. With the addition of PreK at KIPP, our students will benefit from support, relationships, and advocacy from the KIPP Team and Family—through our schools and alumni-supporting KIPP Forward program—for more than two decades.
We are excited to renovate two under-utilized spaces in the center of each school to serve as our new Library Media Centers. The Library Media Centers will act as learning hubs, where students can immerse themselves in books to expand on their love of reading and access resources to feed their individual passions. In addition to whole-class instructional spaces, each media center will have breakout spaces for smaller groups of students and staff to learn together, convene in a small group setting, or provide one-on-one support. Along with the construction of these new libraries, we will continue to develop and expand our best-in-class early literacy program, further ensuring that KIPP is a center of teaching and learning excellence in Baltimore City.
At KIPP Baltimore, we are committed to ensuring that our schools are safe places for every member of our community to thrive and learn, and that our facilities reflect this ideology. Without access to safe, clean, and comfortable restrooms, many students choose to avoid the facilities altogether, leading to decreased focus and potential health issues. Renovating fourteen student restrooms and three adult restroom facilities— including addition of gender-neutral options—is an unambiguous signal to our students and families that we value their identities and experiences and are committed to their safety, comfort, and well-being. Our students and staff deserve an environment that contributes to their growth and development—not one that holds them back.
Our resolve to light the path for our students remains steadfast. Together, we’re not just changing the landscape of education in Baltimore; we’re setting a new standard for what’s possible when a community comes together for its children.
T. Rowe Price
Johns Hopkins Hospital
Resolve Growth Partners
Lighting the Path: A Campaign to Transform KIPP is made possible through the tireless leadership of our community volunteers – including KIPP families, alumni, and our Board of Directors.
The William L. and Victorine Q. Adams Foundation and the Rodgers Family Fund
Theo Rodgers, a beacon of civic leadership and philanthropy in Baltimore, sees his support for KIPP Baltimore as more than a donation—it’s an investment in the city’s future. With a focus on impactful interventions, Rodgers is particularly drawn to the PreKindergarten program and library enhancements, believing in the foundational role of early education and literacy in children’s lives.
Providing children with access to high-quality early education and rich literary resources lays the groundwork for lifelong learning and success," he emphasizes. Rodgers envisions his contributions as sparks for wider change, reflecting his holistic approach to education that combines dignity with a nurturing environment. As KIPP Baltimore advances, he looks forward to milestones like the first library book checkouts—a symbol of academic curiosity and joy in learning. Theo’s commitment underlines a collective duty to empower every child to realize their potential, marking him as a steadfast advocate for educational excellence and uplifting communities.
MBA Candidate, Emory University 2015 KIPP Baltimore Alumni
KIPP instilled a love of learning in me from the time I set foot in the building. In the 6th grade, I would grab a Sci-Fi novel from the small library in my English classroom and sit on a bean bag, immersing myself in a different reality from my own. I can't imagine how impactful it'll be for the students to have a big library they can explore. Being involved with the campaign allows me to solve a challenge that KIPP has faced since I want a student - and allows me to give back.
Electrical Engineer, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) 2012 KIPP Baltimore Alumni
When I started at KIPP in fifth grade, I found out that even though I had passed with one of the highest percentiles in elementary school, I was significantly behind in core academic skills. KIPP not only identified these gaps but gave me the tools to surpass grade level, e which in turn made pursuing my degree a lot easier.
This campaign aims to provide our students with the facilities to succeed and thrive; a school that helps brings out the best in our youth–built through the investment of our whole community in the education we all believe in. I’d like to see KIPP become a beacon of hope for Baltimore, where every student can and will excel.
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia Parent of Serenity, Grade 3
Quiana’s journey with KIPP Baltimore from Parent Association President to a pivotal member of the Board of Directors and Campaign Executive Committee underscores her profound commitment to enhancing the educational environment for KIPP students. Motivated by her desire to amplify parent leadership and ensure the direct impact of fundraising efforts on students, Quiana has been a driving force behind the “Lighting the Path” campaign.
Quiana’s passion is particularly evident in her advocacy for the library project, seeing it as a critical tool for fostering a love of reading and providing essential resources to students beyond the school day.
I think the library is an opportunity to create additional social-emotional learning spaces – especially for our middle schoolers. The plans for the library include huddle rooms, and children having spaces like that available to work with small groups (or even by themselves) creates important opportunities for them. This library is going to be for them, and students will respond to our building something special and important just for them. What if we were able to have a coding group or a gaming club after school? These opportunities will be so special.
Our resolve to light the path for our students remains steadfast. Together, we’re not just changing the landscape of education in Baltimore, we’re setting a new standard for what’s possible when a community comes together for its children. Please use the helpful links and resources below that were created in support of this campaign.
We extend our deepest gratitude to our current donors, whose generous contributions embody the spirit of community and commitment that propels our mission forward.
Kendall Brewton ‘12
Paige and Alyssa Davis
Jennifer St. Germain
Quiana Dunn-Gordon
Amy Kiesel
Shanika Paul ‘15
Marsha Reeves
Brian Riewerts & Rebecca Gilliam
Jit and Swati Sinha
The Abell Foundation
Anonymous
Brittany Ballentine ‘12
Rheda Becker & Robert E. Meyerhoff
The Blake-McDowell Family
The Blanket Fort Foundation
Kendall Brewton ‘12
Clayton-Baker Trust
Melissa and Jonathan Cordish
Cecil E. Flamer
The France-Merrick Foundation
Martha & Patrick Hastings
Lockhart Vaughan Foundation
The Manger Family Foundation
The Middendorf Foundation
Yehuda and Anne Neuberger
Offit-Kurman
Joshua Perry
Gloria & Tony Romeo
E. Curtis Rountree
Ken & Betsy Rutherford
The Sawyer Family
Charlie Scheeler & Mary Pease
The Shawe Family Foundation
The Sherman Family Foundation
Anne Swett
T. Rowe Price Associates
Hutch & Susan Vernon
Kathie and Jon Wachs
If you would like to sign up for emails, updates, and newsletters related to the Lighting the Path campaign, we encourage you to do so below!
