Today, professional sports teams are increasingly functioning as civic entities in their communities. Fans turn to them in moments of celebration, but also in times of crisis and hardship. We were reminded of that recently when the New Orleans Saints marked the 20th anniversary of their return to the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina, a game that came to symbolize resilience and recovery for the city.
That is the unique power of sports: bringing together people with vastly different backgrounds and beliefs around a common cause and, sometimes, a shared sense of hope. If a team has the privilege of bringing a community of fans together on Sunday, it should ask what that connection can accomplish the other six days of the week and beyond the season. The Baltimore Ravens feel honored to be in this position, but we also understand the responsibility that comes with it.
And the opportunity for professional sports teams is bigger than writing a check. We are uniquely positioned to inspire action amongst our fans, players, alumni, employees, corporate partners and nonprofits. Sixteen million minutes of service.
That’s what Ravens fans, players, staff, partners and communities accomplished through this year’s Caw to Action on October 6, our annual day of service that inspires the Ravens Flock to volunteer while shining a light on nonprofits doing critical work. In partnership with United Way, this year’s effort engaged 170 schools and 85,000 students, with projects expected to benefit approximately 275,000 individuals. Those numbers are incredible, but what matters more is what they represent.
They demonstrate what can happen when a team uses its platform to bring people together around something bigger than the game. When we created Caw to Action, the idea was to get up, get out and give back. We knew our players and staff could make a difference, but we also knew our greatest impact could come from inspiring others to join us.
What began as part of the National Football League’s 100th season volunteer initiative in 2019 has evolved into something that our entire Flock now anticipates and participates in. In 2025, more than 60,000 volunteers donated 11.5 million minutes of service, extending nationally and internationally. Just one year later, that impact grew to 16 million minutes of service across 13 states and nine countries.
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