Qlarant Donates iPads to BAAM

 

Easton, MD—On November 22, 2021, Dr. Molly Burgoyne-Brian, Vice Chair of Qlarant Foundation, presented Dina Gomes Daly, LCSW, MSW, Executive Director of Building African American Minds (BAAM) with 5 gently-used, iPad devices and covers. According to their website, “the purpose of this program is to identify first grade African American males at risk for failure. We aim to recognize and address socioeconomic barriers that inhibit their ability to learn effectively and provide academic enrichment in a safe, caring, and structured environment. The organization added BAAM for Girls in 2021 with the goal of teaching girls to think for themselves. “We value self-worth, integrity, and intelligence.” (www.baamboys.com)

Ms. Daly joined Dr. Burgoyne-Brian, along with BAAM Athletic Director Kendrick Daly, in the BAAM Athletic Facility on Jowite Street in Easton for the presentation. “BAAM is thankful for partners like Dr. Burgoyne, who is actively involved with our BAAM students and thinks of us when there is an opportunity to improve what we do for our youth and community,” said Daly. “We are grateful for the iPads that we received today from Qlarant and we will definitely use them to better serve the young boys and girls who participate in our after school program and who attend our Athletic Center to play basketball, indoor soccer, and other community activities.”

In addition to his duties as Athletic Director, Kendrick Daly handles BAAM’s Information Technology function.

BAAM opened the Athletic Center in 2019 and provides a gym, locker rooms, and classroom space for the children. “We started in 2005 serving 5 families.” The organization was created by Derick and Dina Daly to “to address socioeconomic barriers that inhibit a child’s ability to learn effectively and to provide academic programs in a safe, caring, and structured environment.” (Talbot Spy, April 30, 2020). Since then, BAAM has served over 200 families and has been “very active participants in the community. These facilities will allow us to support children from 1st thru 12th grade by giving them a safe place to learn and just hang out.”

Derick Daly passed the baton to Dina Daly as Executive Director in 2021 to turn his attention to other projects to benefit the community and the organization. She took over after retiring as the head of the Caroline County Department of Social Services.

“Qlarant is excited to make this small contribution to BAAM, an organization making a significant, positive impact in the local community,” said Dr. Burgoyne-Brian.

Qlarant Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Qlarant, a national leader in quality improvement, high reliability, program integrity, and technology solutions. The company is headquartered in Easton, with 500 employees across the country. Since 2006, the Foundation has awarded almost $6 million to 87 different organizations in Maryland and the District of Columbia.

BAAM is a 2020 Community Impact Award recipient and Dina Daly is a 2021 Caliber Award, Lifetime Achievement award winner. To learn more about BAAM, these awards, and other impact stories, visit the website (www.baamboys.com/impact-stories).