A day after zigzagging through the Detroit Lions in the Ravens’ 48-3 romp at M&T Bank Stadium, Ray Rice couldn’t shake free Monday of a slew of awestruck pupils from West Baltimore’s Belmont Elementary School.

Though the 130 kids at the Colonnade hotel near Johns Hopkins University were there to pick out donated toys and gifts for themselves and loved ones, it was the presence of Rice — and fellow Ravens Jared Gaither, Lardarius Webb and Justin Harper — that lit up their faces the most.

Rice, in a Santa hat, was grinning, too, as he put his arm around a little girl and said, “I got my darling. Let’s go.” The second-year running back patiently escorted her around the banquet hall, helping her choose among Barbies, make-up kits, Transformers and Play-Doh. Once she made up her mind and left to get her two presents wrapped, Rice stopped to pose for photos and sign autographs. It wasn’t a hassle; Rice, who in his childhood lost both his father and an older cousin who served as a father figure, was content with brightening the children’s holidays.

“It’s like no other feeling when you can impact a child’s life and they’re going through situations that you went through and can reflect in,” Rice said. “When they look up to you, it means a lot, so giving back is something that comes from the heart.”

Over the holidays and throughout the year, the Ravens organization and its players spend time and money on charitable causes. But, players say, their motivation goes deeper than boosting the Ravens’ image: to finding causes they connect to, recognizing that they have a lot in a city of need. They know the opportunity to make an impact may be fleeting.

“There are so many people who are less fortunate than everyone in this locker room, and that’s why we have a lot of guys who do things [in the community],” said tight end Todd Heap, who is helping to raise $1 million for a pediatric unit at Franklin Square Hospital in White Marsh. “When you’re in the position we are, it’s important that we give something back.”

In 2008, the Ravens made more than 400 player appearances in the community, said Ravens director of community relations Melanie LeGrande, and the organization gave $1.3 million (some of that came from the NFL to help the Ravens build a football field at Mergenthaler Vo-Tech High School in Northeast Baltimore). This year, the Ravens expect to give about $750,000 in grants. Fourteen players have their own foundations.

“We have 50 other players who have a passion about something,” said LeGrande, whose department helps direct the players’ charitable efforts. “Haloti Ngata has a passion for diabetes awareness because his mother passed away from complications from it. … Paul Kruger has a passion for kidney disease and helping kids and adults who have lost kidneys because he [is missing one]. Everyone has a story.”

LeGrande’s office at the Owings Mills training facility is unkempt, with oversized checks and autographed footballs gear scattered about. A stack of requests — more than the Ravens can accommodate — sits at the edge of her desk.

LeGrande said the organization gives players as many charitable opportunities as possible, but doesn’t force them to give. Many players approach her.

“Sometimes it’s just as easy as showing up at a place and talking to people for an hour or signing autographs,” said center Matt Birk, a Harvard graduate who feels his biggest accomplishment is his degree, and whose focus is childhood literacy. “If it’s that easy to help someone out, why wouldn’t you? I think most people would.”

“Our players are out there, really, every night, especially on Tuesdays and Mondays,” said Ravens coach John Harbaugh, who wants to open a youth center. “I think our players are proud to be in the Baltimore community.”

Wide receiver Derrick Mason, who along with Samari Rolle and others recently took 60 disadvantaged children on a shopping spree at Target, appreciates the effect they can have. “It means a lot to me,” he said. “I’m not going to get this opportunity forever, to touch so many people on this type of platform.”

However, Mason said the players don’t have an obligation to help just because they’re highly paid athletes.

“When you feel obligated, you feel pressured to give back. I just do it because this is what I want to do,” said Mason, who also blessed senior centers with his vocal stylings on a recent karaoke tour. “So whatever we do, we do it out of the goodness of our hearts.”

And when players make appearances, the community feels the warmth.

“It means a lot to the kids,” said Belmont Principal Christopher Gibbs, who organized Monday’s event with the Sports Boosters of Maryland to reward good students. “It’s the holidays and some of our children won’t get Christmas gifts, so it’s a wonderful experience for them.”

For Rice, the feeling was mutual.

“I get peace out of this knowing that I did something right for the kids,” he said before helping a young boy pick out a football and a board game. “And that they might take a message from something that I said and do something positive in
life.”

Matt Vensel is a content creator for b. E-mail him at matt@bthesite.com.

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