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RED SOX FOUNDATION, BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS CELEBRATE ENHANCEMENTS TO BLACKSTONE SCHOOL

Foundation Funded Project Includes Improvements to

Recreational Spaces for BPS Students

BOSTON, MA – The Red Sox Foundation and Boston Public Schools last week celebrated renovations to the gymnasium and outdoor recreational space with students at Blackstone Elementary School in Boston’s South End. Designed to expand opportunities for students to play and be active during the school day, the project, funded by the Red Sox Foundation, includes new wall pads in the gymnasium, a Green Monster-inspired wall and staircase, and a new baseball diamond in the schoolyard. In addition to the recreational enhancements, the Foundation has contracted with Consigli Construction in Boston to remove a hazardous staircase inside the school to increase safety for students, faculty and staff.

Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper joined Red Sox Partner and Foundation Board Member Linda Henry, Red Sox Foundation Executive Director and Executive Vice President of Social Impact Bekah Salwasser, and Blackstone Elementary School leaders for a walkthrough of the completed spaces and a PLAY BALL clinic with students, led by Red Sox Foundation staff.

“Bringing Fenway Park into the community is about more than recreating the look and feel of the ballpark,” said Tom Werner, Chairman, Boston Red Sox. “It is about extending the sense of pride and belonging that Fenway Park represents. We listened to the Blackstone community and worked with our partners to create spaces that reflect the energy and potential of its students, places they can call their own, use daily, and enjoy for years to come.”

“Investing in young people also means investing in the places where they learn and play,” said Bekah Salwasser, EVP, Social Impact and Executive Director, Red Sox Foundation. “These enhancements give Blackstone students spaces that reflect how much this community believes in them and wants them to thrive. We are so grateful to have such a strong partner in Boston Public Schools. I’m also thankful for Consigli, who drove this project with a true understanding of our community’s values and goals.”

“Creating welcoming, well-equipped spaces for students to learn, play, and be active is an important part of supporting the whole child,” said Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper. “These renovations at Blackstone Elementary School are providing our students with spaces they can take pride in and enjoy every day, while creating new opportunities for them to come together as a school community. We are grateful to the Red Sox Foundation for making this possible for our students and for their strong partnership and support over many years.”

“As builders, we’re always thinking about how a space will be used after we have finished the job, and what kind of lasting impact it will have on our community,” said Anthony Consigli, CEO of Consigli Construction Co., Inc. “Projects like this make the work we do at Consigli that much more rewarding, and we’re grateful to the Red Sox Foundation for the opportunity to help build happier, stronger futures for local students and families here in Boston.”

Following the unveiling of enhancements, Red Sox Foundation staff led Blackstone students in a PLAY BALL clinic featuring catching, running, and wiffle-ball batting drills. The Foundation also provided the school with PLAY BALL kits for students to use during gym and recess.

Photos from today’s event can be found here using password: rsf26.

–RED SOX–