Nearly 10 years since Shannon Obaker passed away, her passion for helping others lives on. Shannon’s family and friends, joined by fans and supporters, gathered on the Centerfield Roof Deck at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Saturday, Aug. 19 to support cancer patients in need.
The annual fundraiser benefits Shannon’s Fund, an endowment established by the Baltimore Orioles and OriolesREACH in Shannon’s honor. It provides funding to patients at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) for general expenses associated with the cancer treatment process, including transportation, prescription cost, hotel stays, food and clothing. For some people, those everyday costs quickly add up and become a financial hardship, especially when faced with reoccurring hospital visits.
Shannon, who worked as the director of community outreach for the Baltimore Orioles, bravely fought cancer for more than a year before passing away at age 29 in 2007. The annual fundraiser allows for Shannon’s family and friends to reconnect and focus on celebrating her legacy of helping others.
“You just never want the memory of Shannon to go away,” says Erin Giordani, one of Shannon’s sisters. “This event really helps keep her memory alive and shows who she was in her life.”
The Aug. 19 fundraiser sold 240 tickets, which included entry to the Baltimore Orioles v. Houston Astros game. Guests arrived early to enjoy a pregame barbeque, a visit from Orioles players, and an opportunity to watch batting practice. Family and friends also shared fond memories of Shannon and were pleased to hear examples of how Shannon’s Fund has helped patients at UMMC.
Midway through the ballgame, the Baltimore Orioles named UMMC Social Worker Majbritt Jensen as their Birdland Community Hero. The program recognizes a person who inspires and exhibits a commitment to community service. Majbritt, who works in the Bone Marrow Transplant program at the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, regularly utilizes Shannon’s Fund to help many of her patients. Some of Majbritt’s family who coincidentally live in Houston traveled to Baltimore for the event.
UMMC is committed to helping all patients in need. Similar to Shannon’s Fund, UMMC also oversees the Patient Care Fund, which financially assists patients in any department of the hospital.
We would like to give a big thank you to Kristen Schultz, director of community relations and promotions for the Baltimore Orioles, and the entire Baltimore Orioles organization for coordinating this event. Thank you to everyone who came out and supported Shannon’s Fund as well. Your generosity helps countless patients throughout Maryland and beyond, exactly what Shannon would have wanted.
To see photos from the event, visit our Facebook page.
For more information about Shannon’s Fund , please click here.
110 South Paca Street, 9th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21201
410.328.5770
All Rights Reserved. © 2023 University of Maryland Medical System Foundation