Under Armour Re-Imagines a Community Center in East Baltimore

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A prototype of anything might or might not work.

Baltimore is hoping this one will.

An east Baltimore community center, re-imagined as the UA House at Fayette, had all the energy of a pep rally, stuck in the middle of a massive grand opening Tuesday.

To get city funds to help build the Port Covington project, Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank pledged to make improvements throughout the city.

He largely funded the UA House project through his company and his Cupid Foundation, and the plan is for many such community and rec centers to go up throughout the city.

This one includes a massive gym and a nearby field house, for those with energy to burn and learn. Teaching is one of the main missions, whether it be computer and music, or adult jobs training.

"We have 100 plus students every day in our after school program," says center director Travis Street. "We pick them up from our three feeder schools."

There's even entrepreneurial training by Under Armour.

"To celebrate this first major investment coming out of the Port Covington M.O.U., it's very exciting to be here," Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said.

UA House at Fayette is operated by Living Classrooms, a longtime advocate of community involvement with education.

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