We have some great donors and partners here at FRP!
We have some great donors and partners here at FRP. We’d like to thank Lenise Thompson of Amerigroup for visiting The Sage Center and providing lunch for our Sage Center Staff. FRP and Sage Center Resident, Ms. Jessica Brooks joined us for lunch and shared her inspiring story with Mrs. Thompson. Amerigroup awarded the Sage Center with a generous monetary contribution for our parents to be able to purchase household essentials. To end a day of sharing and caring with FRP, Mrs. Thompson awarded Dr. Gainers with a service award, for all of the hard work that she does for our organization. Thank you, Amerigroup! We are forever grateful!
Hogan Signs Student-Athlete Safety Legislation in Honor of Late Baltimore Football Player Elijah Gorham
At FRP, we take pride in being a family centered program. Not only for our parents/clients, but also for our staff members. In October 2021, our lead Security Monitor, Mr. James Gorham faced one of the toughest and most difficult moments in his life, the loss of his son, Elijah Gorham. Elijah was undoubtedly a great son to his parents, brother to his siblings, friend, and a rising football player at Mergenthaler Vocational Technical School in Baltimore. Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott posted on Twitter, “Elijah Gorham was more than a @HighMervo student athlete. He was a young man full of promise with an infectious spirit. Elijah’s passing is an unspeakable tragedy. My heart goes out to his family and our @MustangGang410 community. #7strong #mustangpride ????????”
On September 18th, Elijah was giving his best on the field during a game against Dunbar High School when he was injured on the field. His injury left him in the hospital for nearly three weeks until his passing, which the Medical Examiner listed several causes including accidental trauma. This is something that no one wishes for anyone, anywhere or any time, and as a close-knit organization, it has been hard to see Mr. James and his family go through. But FRP has promised to be there every step of the way. We are so proud of Mr. James and Elijah’s mother, Ms. Shantres Shaw for being diligent and persevering through this most difficult time in their lives and ensuring that this does not happen to another student-athlete in the state of Maryland and world-wide.
According to www.wbaltv.com, “The late Elijah Gorham now has a state law named after him that requires Maryland’s public middle and high schools to develop venue-specific emergency action plans to deal with sports injuries. The Elijah Gorham Act is expected to have a profound positive impact on student-athlete safety.” It is because of the parents of Elijah that this bill made it to Governor Hogan’s office on the last day of the General Assembly session, and we are proud to share that the Elijah Gorham Act will be effective July 1, 2022. The new law requires all Maryland schools to develop an emergency plan of action for every sports venue.
We know that if the family had a choice, that they would bring their dear Elijah back to them, but the passing of this bill is just a reminder that Elijah’s passing was not in vain and for his legacy to be carried throughout the years. We are proud of Elijah’s parents and as an organization, will stand with them in the years to come to remember the life and legacy of their beloved, Elijah.