News We Love: Steph Curry, Jordan Spieth surprise students with new weight room at Baltimore school
Newly renovated weight room comes as part of Under Armour's Armour Day community service initiative
Newly renovated weight room comes as part of Under Armour's Armour Day community service initiative
Newly renovated weight room comes as part of Under Armour's Armour Day community service initiative
Two-time NBA MVP Steph Curry and three-time major championship-winning golfer Jordan Spieth surprised students Monday at Carver Vocational Technical High School in Baltimore by unveiling a newly renovated weight room as part of Under Armour's Armour Day community service initiative.
Students were thrilled to see the new weight room that's equipped with new floors, power racks, benches, dumbbells, plate-loaded fixed machines, medicine balls, kettlebells, suspension trainers, resistance bands, sleds and more.
"This was an unexpected moment. We were all happy to come here," said Dallis Brown, a junior at Carver.
Curry and Spieth joined more than 100 Under Armour teammates to put the finishing touches on the weight room, a renovation partnership between Under Armour and the Impact Fitness Foundation.
Carver was one of 13 locations around Baltimore City where more than 1,000 Under Armour teammates volunteered Monday morning to make a difference in the community.
"It's my second Armour Day, at least, and it's really cool that they are now heading out into the community and doing a bunch of things for the community today," Spieth said.
"There's so much talent and potential in cities like these, but maybe not so much the opportunity with the narrative that's around the city, so doing anything I can to help change that is important," Curry said.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott highlighted the significance of such investments in schools and children.
"When you see the reactions of the young people and they understand and see that people didn't just say they believed in them, but show them, with things like this space, and to have the best shooter to ever walk the planet to be here to unveil it for them, and to have one of the best golfers in the world to be here alongside our partners at Under Armour, that's what the work is all about," Scott said.
"You could see it in their eyes as they walked through. Nobody anticipated that this would look like this, that there would be this much investment," Baltimore City Schools CEO Sonja Santelises said.
Brown said the investment means much to him and his classmates.
"In this area, you don't get that many opportunities. So, for them to be able to come out and do this for us, it feels good," Brown said. "This can help us (during) the season by being able to use the different equipment to help push ourselves in the weight room and to build our muscles and get ready for the next season, too."
Curry and Spieth said they hope their visit will inspire students to pursue their dreams.
"One interaction, one smile, one handshake, one picture can kind of keep a kid motivated and make them feel that they're good enough, and that if they put the work in, they can achieve the same visions and goals," Curry said. "It's really amazing to know you feel seen, and you feel cared about, like that energy goes a long way, not just winning games or matches, but the self-exploration that happens inside these walls.
"They should feel loved, they should feel supported, and then, hopefully, inspired to just put in that work and just get better as humans," Spieth said.
The renovated weight room is part of Under Armour's long-term partnership with Baltimore City Public Schools, which aims to upgrade facilities, equipment, apparel, leadership development and coach training for city schools that have athletic programs.
