WASHINGTON — Earlier this year, the Baltimore Ravens organization was in the center of the national debate over domestic violence after then-player Ray Rice was seen on video knocking out his future wife.
The team eventually fired Rice, but was subject to criticism over how long it took.
As the team moves on and rebuilds, it has donated $400,000 to an organization that helps young people recognize the signs of relationship abuse.
“It’s not NFL-specific; it’s not not Ravens-specific; it’s an epidemic that crosses all parts of our society,” said Katie Hood, with the One Love Foundation.
The foundation was started by the parents of Yeardley Love, of Cockeyville, Md. Love, a University of Virginia lacrosse player, was killed in 2010 by her boyfriend George Huguely, 24, of Chevy Chase, Maryland. Love was 22; Huguely was sentenced to 23 years for the murder.
The organization has created a curriculum and film called “Escalation,” to be used in colleges and high schools to educate young people about relationship violence.
Elizabeth Jackson, senior director of human resources with the Baltimore Ravens, says the organization was interested in the One Love Foundation even before the Ray Rice situation.
“It touched us personally because she grew up in and around Baltimore,” Jackson says.
The hope, Jackson says, is that the foundation can use the Ravens’ name and influence to further their goal of reaching young people before it’s too late.
“There is really no question in any of our minds that this a partner that we wanted to be involved in because we believe it can make a huge difference,” Jackson says.
The foundation welcomes the Ravens’ support, and Hood believes the donation shows the Ravens organization is taking steps to approach the issue of domestic violence, head on.
This isn’t the Ravens’ first donation to an organization working to combat domestic violence. In August, the organization donated $600,000 to House of Ruth.
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