Even before the ink dried on the six-year contract extension Nick Markakis signed with the Orioles in January 2009, the budding star right fielder vowed that he would make as big an impact off the field as on it.
Four months later, Markakis and his wife, Christina, announced the formation of a nonprofit organization called The Right Side Foundation, whose mission was to improve the lives of distressed children throughout Maryland.
In just six months, the Markakises have hosted children from the Ronald McDonald House on a trip to the ESPN Zone and aquarium, led a group from the Living Classrooms Foundation on tours of Camden Yards and the Sports Legends Museum, and organized a day at the Ravens practice facility for patients from the Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital.
Their early work with The Right Side Foundation will be recognized Friday, when the Markakises will be presented with the Babe Ruth Museum Community Service Award.
"Before we even signed the contract, we'd always say if we were blessed the way we were, we'd help out the community," said Nick Markakis, 26, who is preparing for his fifth full season with the Orioles. "We love kids, and we know how important it is to help any way we can. This is what we've always wanted to do."
The Markakises, who make their year-round home in Monkton, have one child, a 10--month-old boy named Taylor. Christina, a former elementary school teacher, is due in June to give birth to the couple's second child.
Shortly after Nick signed his contract extension, he and his wife, armed with ideas for the foundation, hired Maroon PR, which helped the couple launch and manage it, and designed its logo and Web site (rightsidefoundation.org).
"The groups that we really needed to help started reaching out to us," Christina said. "It's been unbelievable the support that we've been given. You have so many people behind you, and that just makes your goals that much more obtainable."
An integral part of the foundation is the "Fun for 21" program, the name deriving from Markakis' uniform number. As part of the program, the foundation selects a community group, and then the couple plan an event and invite 21 children from that group to attend.
At the most recent "Fun for 21" event in November, Nick took 21 patients from the Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital to a Ravens practice at the team's Owings Mills facility. Ravens coach John Harbaugh allowed the group to play on one of the practice fields, and several players, including quarterback Joe Flacco, greeted the kids. The Ravens then provided a meeting room for Markakis, who bought the children lunch, handed out gift bags, and signed autographs and posed for pictures.
"There was a 2-year-old in our feeding program, and she really took a liking to Nick," said Kathleen Lee, the director of public relations at the pediatric hospital. "She went over and gave him a big hug, and he just melted when he saw her. He became very attached to her [and] put her on his shoulders later. It was very touching.
"This is one of the newer foundations, but they are getting out and about. We see so many stories where our athletes are not role models. Here you have a guy stepping up to the plate - no pun intended - and doing really good things."
Christina said she and Nick hope to double the number of "Fun for 21" events in 2010 from three to six. They also plan to add one or two more fundraisers after the foundation's inaugural 5K Run and One-Mile Fun Walk in August at Patterson Park attracted more than 800 participants.
"We want to stay grounded," Nick said. "We live here now. This is where we call home, and this is where we want to help kids."
Babe's Birthday Bash When: 5:30 p.m. Friday
Admission: $45 members, $55 nonmembers, $60 at the door
Ticket information: 410-727-1539, ext. 3033