Baltimore Catholic schools celebrate $1 million gift from Under Armour founder
September 07, 2016
On the same morning that an originator of Partners in Excellence was acknowledged, the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s scholarship program for elementary and high school students in Baltimore City received a $1 million gift from the founder of Under Armour Inc.
One of its earliest advocates was Raymond A. “Chip” Mason, a parishioner of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland, who was recognized with the fourth annual Partners in Excellence Award, one which now carries Cardinal Keeler’s name.
Founder of Mason and Company in 1962 and still senior advisor at Legg Mason Inc., he was born in Lynchburg, Va., in the heart of the Bible Belt. Mason was in the second grade when his father died, and the family moved to Bethlehem, Pa. There, he attended the parish school at Ss. Simon and Jude, and then Allentown Central Catholic High.
“They do good things, help those who have the need,” Mason said, when asked why he heeded the call of Cardinal Keeler and continues to support PIE schools. “People don’t realize how much this helps these young kids, 85 percent of whom are not Catholic.”Mason spoke to the Catholic Review just prior to the breakfast, which was sponsored by Legg Mason Inc.
Students from Cardinal Shehan School’s choir sing during a Sept. 7 announcement of a $1 million gift from Kevin Plank to support Partners in Excellence schools. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)
Seton Keough’s athletic teams, as well as those from Archbishop Curley, Cristo Rey Jesuit, the Institute of Notre Dame, Mercy and St. Frances Academy, are all outfitted by Under Armour.
“We have principals, presidents, teachers and staff, who work so hard every day to provide Catholic education,” Archbishop Lori said. “None of what we achieve is possible without you.”Watch a video of the announcement of the $1 million gift here.
By Paul McMullen (pmcmullen@CatholicReview.org)
This article was reproduced from The Catholic Review. See original publication here.
