About BHGH of Baltimore

One of 16 affiliates across the United States and Latin America, Boys Hope Girls Hope of Baltimore helps academically motivated middle and high school students rise above disadvantaged backgrounds and become successful in college and beyond.

Our goal is to graduate young people who are physically, emotionally and academically prepared for post-secondary education and a productive life, breaking the cycle of poverty. BHGH of Baltimore utilizes the following elements to achieve our mission:

  • Academic excellence
  • Service and community engagement
  • Family-like settings to cultivate youth empowerment
  • Long-term and comprehensive programming
  • Faith-based values
  • Voluntary participant commitment
Boys Hope Girls Hope firmly believes that children have the power to overcome adversity, realize their potential, and help transform our world. Children create these successes when we remove obstacles, support and believe in them, and provide environments and opportunities that build on their strengths.

"Because of Boys Hope Girls Hope, I have traveled the world, networked with various important people and have been a part of a brotherhood. My time here has truly helped me grow as a person so that I can help others.”

Joshua, Scholar

Our Mission

To nurture and guide motivated young people in need to become well-educated, career-ready men and women for others.

Our Vision

Our vision is that our scholars reach their full potential and become healthy, productive life-long learners who:
Adapt to an ever-changing world | Thrive in the face of obstacles | Generate a positive ripple effect in their families, work places, and communities

Our Local Impact

Since 2002, BHGH of Baltimore has been helping scholars rise up from disadvantaged backgrounds and strive for more. BHGH of Baltimore serves youth who want to go to college and create successful futures for themselves. Our scholars have joined our program to receive support on their journey to college and beyond. They seek the academic resources, extracurricular opportunities, and mentor relationships we provide.

BHGH of Baltimore History

1977

2002

2007

2010

2012

2017

2017

1977

BHGH Founded.

Father Paul Sheridan started Boys Hope Girls Hope in St. Louis, Missouri.

2002

Boys Hope Girls Hope of Baltimore founded.

Boys Hope Girls Hope opened in Baltimore and was housed in the convent of Our Lady of Pompei Church in the Highlandtown neighborhood of Baltimore.

2007

Boys Hope finds a permanent home.

Founding Board Members of BHGH purchased a lot in Northeast Baltimore and built the boys home.

2010

Girls House Was Built

With the generosity of the television program, Extreme Makeover Home Edition, the girls home was built.

 

2012

Boys Hope’s First College Graduates

Three original Boys Hope Scholars become the first college graduates from the Baltimore program!

  • Marc Franklin – Boston College
  • Michael Franklin – Haverford College
  • David Yeager – Bachelor’s UMBC and Master’s Morgan State 2014

2017

Boys Hope Girls Hope of Baltimore Celebrates 15th Anniversary!

 

2017

Boys Hope Girls Hope International Celebrates 40th Anniversary!

 

Leadership

The Boys Hope Girls Hope of Baltimore Board of Directors and staff leadership collaborate to ensure mission fidelity, financial stewardship and transparency. This team of professionals is committed to continuous learning, effective programming and improvement through impact evaluation and innovation.

Arlene Hackbarth

Executive Director

Boys Hope Girls Hope of Baltimore is pleased to announce the appointment of Arlene Hackbarth as the organization’s Executive Director.  Arlene has a passion for service, coupled with extensive expertise in adolescent development, residential programming and non-profit leadership. A long-time resident of Baltimore, Arlene Hackbarth is a graduate of Loyola University.  She is a licensed professional counselor (LCPC) with more than 35 years of experience, including leadership positions at The Baltimore Station, as well as Catholic Charities.

Demetria Jackson

Program Director

Demetria joined the Boys Hope Girls H0pe of Baltimore team in September of 2019 as the Program Director. Her role is to oversee all the programming for the scholars in the residential programs for both boys and girls. Demetria received her Masters of Science in Human System management for the University of Baltimore and her Masters of Education from Coppin State University.The former Dean of Students at Good Sheppard Services. she has also been a foster parent for over 17 years , providing a safe home for more than 20 Baltimore youth in need. She has worked as a women’s basketball coach in schools and colleges. Her extensive experience leading and mentoring young people is a valuable asset for Boys Hope Girls Hope.
Kiley Dare

Administrative Coordinator

Kiley joined the Boys Hope Girls H0pe of Baltimore team in August 2022 as the Administrative Coordinator. Her role is to oversee all administrative and development operations for the program. Kiley has a diverse background, working with people of all ages. She spent eight years working for a progressive, K-8 arts-integrated charter school in Baltimore City. Kiley is also a certified personal trainer and 200 hour yoga teacher and has a passion for movement. She has spent more than ten years helping people lead healthier lifestyles. In addition, she has offered administrative support to several non-profits, including an organization that is focused on trauma-informed training for teachers and first responders, as well as social justice training for the workplace. Baltimore is happy to welcome Kiley to the team.
Board of Directors
Advisory Board

David Robinson, Chair & Finance Committee
Senior VP of Regional Sales
SunTrust, Now Truist

John Goles, Vice Chair
Senior VP Wealth Management
Janney, Montgomery Scott LLC

Matthew Schofield, Esq., Board Treasurer
Associate
Venable LLP

Jaclyn Pavelec-Ceesay, Secretary / Event Committee
Director of Marketing/Communications
Maxim Healthcare Services

Tim Barger, VP-Interim Staffing Solutions
The Greeley Company

Rodney Baylor, Development Committee
Vice President, Client Services
GeneDx, Inc.

Gina Campbell, Program Committee Chair
The Campbell Foundation

Jacqueline Crosby, Development Committee
Director CMADS Customer Service at CareFirst
CareFirst BCBS Maryland

Shawn Dekker, Development Committee Chair
Director
Albertsons Company

Andrew Hilger, Past Chair & Development Committee
President (retired)
Allegis Group

Bryce Legg, Development Committee
Senior Vice President
Baird

Ray McLaughlin, Former Treasurer/ Finance Committee
Managing Partner
AltaVista Strategic Partners

Tanya M. Robinson, Development Committee
Executive Director of Medicare
Kaiser Permanente

Matthew J. Youssef, Esq., Development Committee
Partner
Niles, Barton & Wilmer, LLP

 

Larry Elias Jennings

James j. Railey

Mike Dunn

Kevin P. McCarthy

Barry Herman

Richard Zink

 

 

The Need We Address

Prior to joining our program, our scholars’ circumstances include environmental barriers that make it difficult to concentrate on achieving their goals. The relationship between educational failure and poverty creates a vicious cycle that affects too many children in our communities and negatively impacts our entire society.

  • Twenty-one percent of children in the US live in poverty (Census Bureau, 2014)
  • Children born into poverty are six times more likely to drop out of school (Cities in Crisis, 2008).
  • The longer a child lives in poverty, the lower their overall level of academic achievement (Guo and Harris, 2000).
  • Children from families in the highest income quartile are 8 times as likely to earn a college degree that those from the lowest income quartile (Pell Institute and Penn Ahead, 2015).
  • In 1980, college graduates earned 29% more than those without. By 2007, that gap grew to 66% (Baum & Ma, 2007).
  • The costs to United States society are significant in terms of economic productivity, tax revenue, health care over-utilization, parental attention to children’s educational development, civic engagement, and volunteerism (Baum & Ma, 2007).
  • According to CEOs for Cities, every one percentage point increase in adult four-year college degree attainment adds an additional $763 to per capita income per year (One Student at a Time, 2013).
  • Cohen and Piquero (2009) monetized the cost to society over the course of a “negative outcome” child’s lifetime as follows: High School Dropout = $390,000 - $580,000, Plus Heavy Drug User = $846,000 – $1.1 Million, Plus Career Criminal = $3.2 - $5.8 Million.

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