Babe Ruth Birthplace Foundation to Honor Former Baltimore Ravens Player O.J. Brigance and Chanda Brigance at “Babe’s Birthday Bash” on Friday, February 8th

Baltimore, Md. – The Babe Ruth Birthplace Foundation today announced that it will present former Baltimore Ravens player O.J. Brigance and his wife Chanda with the 2013 Babe Ruth Birthplace Foundation Community Service Award at the annual “Babe’s Birthday Bash” on Friday, February 8, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards. The event will celebrate the 118th anniversary of Ruth’s birth in Baltimore on February 6, 1895.

The Babe Ruth Birthplace Foundation Community Service Award was created to honor Ruth’s memory by recognizing an active or former professional athlete or individual with ties to the Maryland sports community, who has demonstrated a strong devotion to Baltimore and the State of Maryland by giving back to the community. Previous recipients include Matt Stover, Edwin Mulitalo, Brian Roberts, Melvin Mora, Nick and Christina Markakis, and the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation.

O.J. Brigance played in the National Football League for seven years, winning a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens in 2000. In 2007, Brigance was diagnosed amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) – also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease - a motor neuron disease. Brigance is passionate about his fight against the disease. Together, O.J. and Chanda Brigance created the Brigance Brigade Foundation to raise funds to equip, encourage and empower people living with ALS; they strive to improve the quality of life for patients and their families by providing needed equipment, resource guidance and support services. The Brigance Brigade has partnered with the Robert Packard Center for ALS Research at Johns Hopkins, to support funding of research for a cure. O.J. Brigance currently works for the Baltimore Ravens as a Senior Advisor to Player Development.

“Ever since O.J. and Chanda created the Brigance Brigade in 2008, they have worked tirelessly to spread awareness about ALS on both a local and national level,” said executive director Mike Gibbons. “The Brigance Brigade Fund has helped improve the quality of life for many people living with ALS, and we are proud to recognize O.J. and Chanda for their efforts.”

Since its inception, the Brigance Brigade Foundation has worked to not only spread ALS awareness throughout the state of Maryland, but also help its residents affected by the disease who are in need of assistance. The Brigance Brigade Foundation has donated equipment, services and grants to numerous families in the Baltimore community, which has alleviated some of the financial and emotional strains of dealing with ALS.

“Chanda and I are honored to be recognized as the 2013 recipients of the Babe Ruth Birthplace Foundation Community Service Award,” said O.J. Brigance, co-founder of the Brigance Brigade Foundation. “We are so blessed to be able to help those in our community affected by the disease and hope to continue to help those throughout Maryland, and eventually, the United States.”

Tickets to the event are $45 each for members of the Museum; $55 apiece for the general public when purchased in advance; and $60 each at-the-door on the night of the event. Ten or more tickets purchased together are discounted at $40 each. The evening will include admission to Sports Legends Museum’s galleries; unlimited ballpark inspired food and beverages; a silent auction; appearances by local professional and amateur athletes and FREE PARKING at Camden Yards. Tickets are available by calling Whitney Edmonds at 410-727-1539 ext. 3033 or online at http://www.baberuthmuseum.org/.

Event partners include the Baltimore Orioles, Camden Pub, Centric Business Systems, Dempsey’s Brew Pub & Restaurant, Duncan Investment Partners, Gelberg Signs, Maryland Lottery, Pickles Pub, Smyth Jewelers and Susquehanna Bank.

About The Babe Ruth Birthplace Foundation
The Babe Ruth Birthplace Foundation, Inc. is an independent, not-for-profit educational institution dedicated to perpetuating Maryland’s storied sports heritage. This mission is executed through celebration and preservation of the historic legacy of Baltimore-born Babe Ruth, the Baltimore Orioles and Colts and Baltimore Ravens, as well as the local and regional sports at the amateur, collegiate and various professional levels. Preserving, exhibiting, interpreting and augmenting the Museum’s collection enables the organization to chronicle and tell the story of the State’s rich sports culture for diverse audiences and future generations. The Babe Ruth Birthplace Foundation owns and operates both Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards and the Babe Ruth Birthplace.