Notable and growing list of Baltimore alumni coming October 3rd for three-day event include SoulCycle CEO, hedge fund founder, NBA star, Former Federal Reserve executive, and more

With planning well underway, the first annual Baltimore Homecoming is poised to mobilize investment in Baltimore by bringing back accomplished Baltimore natives from around the U.S. and connecting them with the city’s remarkable leaders and doers. Since launching the effort in November 2017, the Homecoming vision has captured the interest of Baltimore’s alumni community. More than six months out, dozens of high-profile business leaders, athletes, artists and celebrities have already committed to attend and event organizers are well on their way of reaching their goal of 100 alumni attendees.

“Our vision is to build an alumni network of accomplished Baltimore natives from around the U.S. that can connect with and support our city's remarkable community leaders, activists, artists and entrepreneurs,” said Nate Loewentheil, president and co-founder, Baltimore Homecoming, Inc. “The first step is bringing those alumni back for our first Homecoming in October and, right now, things are looking good!" Loewentheil, along with Baltimore business executive JM Schapiro (both born, raised and living in Baltimore), founded Baltimore Homecoming.

Over the course of the multi-day event, Baltimore alumni will have a whirlwind tour of Baltimore’s social, economic and artistic landscape. The Homecoming will expose them to social innovators and neighborhood revitalization projects; highlight entrepreneurs and small business owners; and provide a platform for our city’s talented young people to engage with attendees. Along the way, there will be opportunities for alumni to join these efforts by donating to social, educational and artistic organizations, helping city schools, supporting small business owners, and investing in start-ups and real estate. In addition to dedicated programming for out-of-town guests, there will be a series of receptions and events open to the public focused on the arts.

“I know first-hand what Baltimoreans can achieve. I’ve seen it every step of my life,” said Muggsy Bogues, former NBA player. “I can’t wait to attend Baltimore Homecoming and meet the city’s artists and activists and find ways to join in their work.” Added Jon Jacobson, CEO of Highfields Capital, “I love Baltimore, and I miss my hometown. Baltimore Homecoming will be a great opportunity to reconnect and re-engage. Looking forward to hearing from community leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators about both the city’s challenges AND all the exciting things currently taking place, and more importantly, how we can help.”

The Baltimore Homecoming Host Committee was organized to attract back guests and shape the programming for the October 3-5 event. The Host Committee includes Honorary Chair Mayor Catherine Pugh and nine event Co-Chairs: Emmy-winning actress Julie Bowen, BGE CEO Calvin Butler, Emmy-nominated actor Josh Charles, Congressman Elijah Cummings, Johns Hopkins University President Ron Daniels, filmmaker and Tony Award-winning Broadway producer Amanda Lipitz, author and foundation executive Wes Moore, Under Armour Founder Kevin Plank and MacArthur Fellow and award-winning sculptor/performance artist Joyce Scott, as well as over 40 other Baltimore leaders from business, religious, educational and community institutions.

Word of the event has spread quickly and some of Baltimore’s most accomplished alumni are eager to participate, including business leaders like Carl Turnipseed and Melanie Whelan:

• Carl Turnipseed, former executive for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York: “Baltimore is a city with enormous potential. As proud Dunbar High and Morgan State alumni, my wife Joyce and I are both excited to come back and find ways to contribute.”
• Melanie Whelan, CEO of SoulCycle: “I’m proud of my Baltimore roots and can’t wait to come back and meet some of the city’s entrepreneurs and innovators. I’ll be bringing my whole family!”

"When we began working on this idea almost 18 months ago, we hoped that Baltimore alumni around the country would be open to the concept, but we've been floored by the energy and enthusiasm,” said JM Schapiro, CEO of Continental Realty and co-founder of Baltimore Homecoming. “We still have a lot of work ahead of us, but we're confident that we'll have a great crowd for our inaugural Homecoming."

The progress of Baltimore Homecoming is further illustrated by the commitment of Baltimore companies and foundations to support the event. Lead sponsors for Baltimore Homecoming include Continental Realty Corporation, Whiting-Turner, M&T Bank and BGE; additional sponsors include Brown Advisory and PNC Bank.

About Baltimore Homecoming, Inc.

Baltimore Homecoming, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization registered in the State of Maryland. Nate Loewentheil serves as President & CEO and JM Schapiro as Treasurer of the Board of Directors. The founding Board of Directors also includes Brandon Etheridge, General Counsel at The Baltimore Ravens, and Sophia Silbergeld, Director of Membership and Member Relations at the Greater Baltimore Committee. The organization’s signature event, The Baltimore Homecoming, is scheduled for October 3-5, 2018. More information is available at www.baltimorehomecoming.com

About the Co-Founders

Nate Loewentheil is the former director of the White House Taskforce for Baltimore City under President Obama. Loewentheil grew up in the Hollins Market neighborhood in Southwest Baltimore and later in Towson. JM Schapiro is the CEO of Continental Realty. Schapiro was born in Bolton Hill and is a fifth-generation Baltimorean.

Baltimore Homecoming Host Committee

John Angelos (Baltimore Orioles), Nichole Baccala Ward (TBC), Toby Bozzuto (The Bozzuto Group), John Brothers (T. Rowe Price Foundation), John Cammack (Cammack Associates, LLC), Tina Capetta (Fort McHenry), Jed Dietz (Maryland Film Festival), Donald Fry (Greater Baltimore Committee), Matt Gallagher (Goldseker Foundation), Laura Gamble (PNC Bank), Tom Geddes (Plank Industries), Mike Gill (MD Secretary of Commerce), Nancy Grasmick (Center for Innovation and Leadership in Special Education), Mike Hankin (Brown Advisory), Fagan Harris (Baltimore Corps), Al Hathaway (Union Baptist Memorial Church), Samuel Hoi (MICA), Al Hutchinson (Visit Baltimore), Jeff Johnson (JIJ Communications), Joe Jones (Center for Urban Families), Kevin Liles (KWL Management), Bill McCarthy (Catholic Charities), Jamie McDonald (Generosity, Inc.), Mary Miller (former Under Secretary for Domestic Finance, U.S. Treasury), Patricia J. Mitchell (The Center Club), Lydell Mitchell (former Baltimore Colts running back), Kevin Pearson (M&T Bank), Jay Perman (University of Maryland, Baltimore), Debbie Phelps (Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools), Tim Regan (The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company), Marjorie Rodgers Cheshire (A&R Development), Dara Schnee (Baltimore Community Foundation), Marc Terrill (The Associated), Maria Tildon (CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield), Kisha Webster (Greenmount West Community Center), David Wilson (Morgan State University) and Christy Wyskiel (Johns Hopkins University).