Foundation

The Jonathan Ogden Foundation, Inc was established in 1996 as a tax-exempt charitable organization to assist young people in disadvantaged communities develop self esteem through athletics and education.

On December 11, 1996 the Foundation first honored 150 High School football players from 15 Baltimore High Schools for outstanding academic achievement.  The students received official Baltimore Ravens coats, field passes to the Ravens’ game and halftime recognition.

By 1997, the Foundation began focusing its efforts on two Baltimore schools – Patterson High School and John Rhoo Elementary School.  The Jonathan Ogden Club was formed at Patterson High School for student athletes to promote and reward outstanding academic achievement.  Membership was opened to athletes who maintain a 3.25 gpa and rewards included, tickets to Ravens games, autograph and photo ops with Ravens players and an annual Christmas party with a private tour of the Ravens facility.

From the NFL “Play It Smart” group, the Foundation obtained the services of a young Boston University graduate, Kelley Bagdasarian, who has developed, expanded and implemented our Jonathan Ogden Club programs since her arrival at Patterson High.  Coach Kelley is the academic coach of The Jonathan Ogden Club.  She helps student members set personal goals and directs them to resources so they can achieve them.  Each year she has refined and expanded our Jonathan Ogden Club activities with the support of the Foundation’s Trustee, William R. Hyde, Jr., Esq. and Jonathan Ogden.

Since its inception, the positive impact has been remarkable with grades, SAT/ACT scores, graduation and college acceptance rates rising each year.  We assist our students with SAT/ACT test preparation, college selection and preparing and submitting college applications.  Each spring, we rent buses and take our students on college visits.  For many of our students we pay the SAT/ACT testing fees and college application fees.  We have summer programs for our students and require each to complete a spring “Ropes Course” program, just as many of their contemporaries in private schools do.

Jonathan Ogden personally funded all of the activities of the Foundation in its early years.  In order to expand these activities, the Foundation held its First Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament in June 2002 at the Cascata Golf Resort in Las Vegas, NV.  Drew Hyde has served as Tournament Chairman, Catherine Hyde has served as Administrator and Aaron Roques has served as Celebrity Coordinator in each of our Seven Annual Las Vegas Celebrity Tournaments.  In October 2006 the Foundation held its First Annual “An Evening Ringside” a charity boxing event in Baltimore, MD and in June 2008 held its First Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament in Baltimore, MD in conjunction with its Third Annual Boxing Event.  Wendy Herr has served as Tournament Chairperson and Host of our Baltimore events.

The Jonathan Ogden Foundation is grateful for the contributions from all of our celebrities, participants, contributors and sponsors. Please feel free to contact any of the above for addition information as to any of these upcoming great events.

Since we started The Jonathan Ogden Club at Patterson High School, our members have posed some impressive numbers. Check out our statistics below: