2024 IMPACT REPORT
Jessica Gallagher/The Baltimore Banner
Ulysses Muñoz/The Baltimore Banner
Jerry Jackson/The Baltimore Banner
A LETTER FROM THE CEO AND EDITOR IN CHIEF
At The Baltimore Banner, we are committed to delivering essential, compelling journalism that informs, engages and strengthens communities across Maryland In this report, we highlight the impact of our newsroom in 2024 a year of growth, innovation and deepening connections with our readers and of the supporters who make this work possible.
With a team of more than 80 journalists, the largest in the state, we added beats on education, the environment and local business, and provided critical information and analysis to voters throughout a tumultuous election cycle We launched an Education Hub to provide in-depth reporting on schools, introduced six new newsletters and increased our capacity to deliver high-quality investigative and enterprise journalism
Beyond reporting, we deepened engagement with readers by upgrading our website and mobile app, adding new video capabilities, offering audio versions of all stories and live commenting We created more opportunities to connect with our newsroom through a series of behind-the-scenes virtual conversations and a full schedule of live events Our flagship annual event, iMPACT Maryland, convened nearly 800 attendees to engage with influential leaders shaping our region’s future.
On the strength of this work, The Banner was recognized as News Organization of the Year by the Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association for 2023, won the prestigious George Polk award for our data-driven coverage of Baltimore’s opioid overdose epidemic in 2024 and received numerous additional awards and nominations Our community of subscribers grew by more than 50% in a single year, demonstrating the demand for independent, trusted local journalism.
This report reflects our shared commitment to holding power to account, lifting up communities and delivering journalism with real impact As we forge ahead in 2025, we are deeply grateful to you, our readers and supporters, for standing with us in this mission
Sincerely,
Bob Cohn Chief Executive Officer, The Baltimore Banner
Kimi Yoshino Editor-in-Chief, The Baltimore Banner
2023-2024
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Stewart Bainum Jr. Chair, Baltimore Banner Board of Directors Choice Hotels International
Sandy Bainum Actor, singer, dancer, producer
Bob Cohn CEO, The Baltimore Banner
Janet Currie President, Greater Maryland – Bank of America
Clay Fisher Global marketing executive
Jedd Gould President and owner, Mediabids
William (Bill) L. Jews Professional director, former president and CEO, CareFirst Inc.
Brian McGrory Chair, Boston University Journalism Program
Shanaysha Sauls CEO, Baltimore Community Foundation
Heather Diehl
CURRENT BANNER STAFF
Danielle Allentuck
Uhmar Alston
Stokely Baksh
Sapna Bansil
Karen Bark
Zuri Berry
Giacomo Bologna
Cody Boteler
Liz Bowie
Tanisha Briston
Adora Brown
Julie Bykowicz
Jessica Calefati
Emanuel Carmona
Wesley Case
Madeline Chapin
Cassie Clark
Bob Cohn
Meredith Cohn
Ben Conarck
Elizabeth Courtemanche
Michael Crist
Darreonna Davis
Christopher Dinsmore
Matthew Dolan
Tennyson Donyea
Sean Doughtery
Justin Fenton
Steven Frazier
Jessica Gallagher
Biswajit Ganguly
Hayes Gardner
Matti Gellman
Nina Giraldo
Norm Gomlak
Aryeh Goodman
Kyle Goon
Alyson Griese
Kate Griesemer
Kristen Griffith
Kyle Haas
Giana Han
Cayla Harris
Eileen Holliday
Michael Hughes
Michael Hughes
Rick Hutzell
Jerry Jackson
Sahana Jayaraman
Lytonya Jernigan
Andre Jones
Monique Jones
Aliyah Kaplan
Michael Katz
Shannon Kief
Nolan King
Sara Kirby
Rona Kobell
Chris Korman
Andy Kostka
Nori Leybengrub
Ryan Little
Clara Longo de Freitas
Maya Lora
Tramon Lucas
Seth Lueck
Paul Mancano
Alex Mann
Richard Martin
Rohan Mattu
Andrea K McDaniels
Brian McGrory
Allie McIntyre
James Meadows
Eric Mendelson
Carrie Mihalcik
Hallie Miller
Caitlin Moore
Greg Morton
Rachel Mull
Ulysses Muñoz
Sharon Nevins
Kaitlin Newman
Nhan Ngo
Jess Nocera
John O'Connor
Oluwaseun Odiase
Emily Opilo
T J Ortenzi
Bria Overs
Michelle Parcells
Emma Patti
Matt Poremski
Tim Prudente
Lillian Reed
Stuart Reid
Cindy Ren
Lee Sanderlin
Daniel Sargeant
Julie Scharper
Hunter Schloss
Dylan Segelbaum
Jonas Shaffer
Krishna Sharma
Florence Shen
Brenna Smith
Devin Smith
Leslie Streeter
Hilina Tafesewarq
Ali Tajdar
Toluwanimi Talabi
Meredith Tarpey
Mike Tasselmyer
Christina Tkacik
Eric Ulken
Glenna Urquhart
Leon Vainikos
Prachi Vashisht
Jasmine Vaughn-Hall
Allan James Vestal
Tejal Wakchoure
Brian Walsh
Sarah Walton
Brandon Weigel
John-John Williams IV
Adam Willis
Brenda Wintrode
Ellie Wolfe
Herman Wong
Pamela Wood
Kimi Yoshino
Ruby Yuan
Ariel Zambelich
Danny Zawodny
Alissa Zhu
Abby Zimmardi
2024 NEW HIRE SPOTLIGHTS
Julie Bykowicz is a business and enterprise editor, leading a team of reporters to tackle ambitious stories She previously spent 10 years as a crime and politics reporter at the Baltimore Sun and covered national politics for the Wall Street Journal, the Associated Press and Bloomberg News
CaylaHarris is The Banner’s inaugural obituary writer She previously covered state politics for The Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News in Texas and the Albany Times Union in New York
Darreonna Davis is an express desk reporter She joined The Banner following a fellowship with the 19th News, and previously held reporting roles and internships with Forbes, Inside Climate News, CNN and CNBC
RonaKobell is a reporter who brings expertise honed through more than two decades writing for Maryland publications, most recently as editor of Chesapeake Quarterly She previously served as a reporter with the Chesapeake Bay Journal and the Baltimore Sun.
Ali Tajdar is head of insights & analytics, where he leads a team tasked with providing actionable insights on editorial and business strategy, leveraging industry experience and his MS degree in Data Science, Predictive Analytics and AI from Northwestern University
ChristopherDinsmore joined as The Banner’s regional editor in October 2024 following a career of over 12 years with the Baltimore Sun and close to two decades as a business editor and writer at the Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk
EmilyOpilo joined the team in October to cover City Hall as part of the political reporting team under Editor John O’Connor She previously covered City Hall at the Baltimore Sun and the city beat for the Morning Call in Allentown, Pennsylvania
Herman Wong is deputy managing editor for news, where he brings rigor and planning to daily news operations He previously spent 10 years with the Washington Post, most recently as deputy editor on the general assignment news desk
Matt Dolan is an enterprise editor, helping to direct in-depth investigative coverage on a wide range of issues He previously worked at the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Virginian-Pilot, the Baltimore Sun, the Wall Street Journal and the Detroit Free Press, where he covered local, national and international stories
HunterSchloss serves as senior vice president of growth to drive subscription strategy and engagement, helping The Banner deliver on its commitment to be the most essential and compelling news organization for Maryland communities
Ariel Zambelich joined as visuals director in October 2024 She has previously worked with news outlets including the Wall Street Journal, the Intercept, NPR, and WIRED
NEW INITIATIVES: THE EDUCATION HUB
The Banner launched the Education Hub in 2024, our first-ever community supported journalism initiative. The launch marked a significant expansion of our coverage of school systems across the state and doubled the size of the editorial team on the education beat. Their reporting seeks to answer the question: What does it take to give every Maryland child a high-quality education? They examine this question from every angle and development stage, from maternal health and early childhood education to higher education and workforce development
New hires who joined the Education Hub team in 2024 include Maya Lora, The Banner’s inaugural early childhood education reporter, and Higher Education Reporter Ellie Wolfe. Jessica Calefati, who has been with The Banner since launch, also joined the team. The Education Hub is helmed by Editor Rachel Mull and also includes veteran reporters Liz Bowie, who covers the statewide education system, and Kristen Griffith, whose reporting is focused on Maryland’s education workforce
Supported by the Sherman Family Foundation, the Bainum Family Foundation and many individual contributors, the Education Hub demonstrates the power of philanthropy to bring high-quality journalism to life.
Of the Education Hub’s launch, Editor-in-Chief Kimi Yoshino wrote:
“The Baltimore Banner’s Education Hub will significantly expand the scope of our education coverage, enabling us to serve as an essential resource for Maryland families The Education Hub’s work will help communities across the state more accurately assess the strengths and weaknesses of local education systems ”
MAYA LORA Early Childhood Education Reporter
ELLIE WOLFE Higher Education Reporter
JESSICA CALEFATI Education Investigative Reporter
RACHEL MULL Education Editor
LIZ BOWIE Education Reporter
KRISTEN GRIFFITH Education Reporter
Rosem Morton for The Baltimore Banner
NEW INITIATIVES
ENVIRONMENTAL BEAT
In 2024, The Banner was pleased to announce a brandnew beat helmed by a familiar face: Adam Willis became our inaugural environmental reporter in November following his tenure of more than two years covering Baltimore City Hall with The Banner’s politics team.
In his new role, Willis covers the environment, climate change, conservation and how people and communities are affected by pollution and climate policy. He previously covered energy, the environment and state government for the Fargo Forum in North Dakota. This position is made possible through generous philanthropic funding from the Kentfields Foundation, the Lockhart Vaughan Foundation, the Campbell Foundation and individual community supporters
EXPANDING BUSINESS REPORTING
In 2024, The Baltimore Banner expanded its coverage of Maryland’s economy, businesses, jobs and careers, real estate, and growth. We welcomed several new staff members with diverse backgrounds and expertise to provide in-depth reporting on this important beat, including Business and Enterprise Editor Julie Bykowicz. She joined The Banner after eight years writing about money and influence for The Wall Street Journal and prior positions with the Associated Press, Bloomberg News and as a crime reporter at the Baltimore Sun
Reporter Bria Overs came to The Banner from Word in Black, a nonprofit Black news collaborative, where she reported on financial literacy, reparations, and other finance-related topics relevant to the Black community. Before that, Bria worked at Business Insider as a special projects editor, leading several award-winning editorial projects that addressed personal finance, homeownership and small business. A 2023-2024 Poynter-Koch Media and Journalism Fellow, Bria brings valuable insights to The Banner's business reporting
Giacomo “Jack” Bologna also joined The Banner’s business team in 2024 after previously working at The Baltimore Sun and the Baltimore Business Journal He brings additional local reporting experience from publications in Mississippi and Missouri. Finally, Hayes Gardner arrived in November, bringing complimentary experience to the business team after writing for several publications including The Baltimore Sun, the Louisville Courier-Journal and the Ames Tribune. He was a member of the Courier-Journal team recognized as 2021 Pulitzer Prize Finalists in Public Service
OBITUARIES
In 2024, The Banner launched a new obituaries section and hired our first obituaries writer, Cayla Harris The new section was inspired by reader feedback and features reported stories on Marylanders, from the notable to the unsung in our communities Additionally, the Banner now offers a paid death notice service in partnership with Legacy.com, allowing families to honor their loved ones with detailed tributes.
EXPANDING REGIONAL COVERAGE
As The Banner grows, one of our core goals is to expand the depth and breadth of our coverage to communities throughout Maryland. 2024 yielded significant progress toward this objective. Journalists across the newsroom expanded their focus beyond Baltimore City and we hired additional regional reporters. Regions with dedicated reporting initiatives now include Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Howard County and Anne Arundel County Additional statewide reporting initiatives like the Education Hub and politics team provide issue-based coverage about the people, ideas and policies shaping communities across Maryland
Wesley Lapointe for The Baltimore Banner
AWARD, FELLOWSHIP & INTERNSHIP SPOTLIGHTS
GEORGE POLK AWARD
The Baltimore Banner achieved a significant milestone by winning its first George Polk Award for a series published in 2024. This is a prestigious honor recognizing investigative reporting that drives meaningful change. Journalists Alissa Zhu, Jessica Gallagher and Nick Thieme were recognized for their in-depth investigation into Baltimore’s overdose crisis, conducted in partnership with The New York Times’ Local Investigations Fellowship Their two-year investigation revealed that Baltimore was facing the deadliest drug overdose crisis of any major U.S. city, with fentanyl playing a major role and government-funded treatment providers exploiting vulnerable individuals.
The series exposed the struggles of an overlooked generation of older Black men and highlighted the city’s failure to adequately respond to the crisis. The investigation had an immediate impact: Regulators moved to shut down a troubled treatment program just days after it was profiled, and city leaders introduced new measures to address the overdose epidemic The Banner’s reporting continues to inspire action, with plans to share its data with researchers and news organizations to further examine the nationwide opioid crisis
PETER F. COLLIER AWARD FOR ETHICS IN JOURNALISM
Three Banner journalists, Jessica Calefati, Justin Fenton and Julie Scharper, were honored with the second-place prize for local reporting from the Peter F Collier Award for Ethics in Journalism, a new award that celebrates acts of journalism by student and professional journalists that meet the highest ethical standards in the face of pressure or incentives to do otherwise.
The prize recognized the team’s investigation of allegations of sexual abuse against church figures at Greater Grace World Outreach, an East Baltimore-based megachurch with thousands of members across Maryland and the world The series delved into the church’s alleged practices designed to silence accusers and protect those accused of abuse. By cultivating trust with survivors, the team was able to include many first-hand accounts that had never been shared publicly.
TO READ MORE ABOUT THE SERIES, PLEASE SEE THE IMPACT HIGHLIGHT ON PAGE 16.
INTERNSHIPS AT THE BANNER
In 2024, The Banner welcomed a new cohort of summer interns through the BNEXT program, which provides paid opportunities for young people to explore career pathways in journalism and benefit from mentorship, career conversations and field trips. The program is representative of The Banner’s commitment to strengthen, inform and inspire young people in the Maryland communities we serve
NEWSROOM FELLOWSHIP HIGHLIGHTS
Monique Jones serves as vice president, editorial and business development at The Baltimore Banner. In late 2024, she was selected as a 2025 Fellow of the Sulzberger Executive Leadership Program at Columbia Journalism School Fellows are leaders in the field selected based on their ability to shape the future of journalism with the aim of supporting them to accelerate strategic projects within their organizations The program will take place over 20 weeks in 2025.
The Banner's Managing Editor Andrea K McDaniels was selected as part of the 2024-2025 cohort of the Executive Program in News Innovation and Leadership at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York (CUNY). The program runs through June 2025 and involves three in-person residency weeks in the fall, winter, and summer, with regular sessions throughout focused on business model innovation, product development, and strategy for newsroom leaders like Andrea who are shaping the future of journalism
Throughout 2024, Managing Editor Emma Patti participated in the esteemed, yearlong Media Transformation Challenge program, an executive fellowship offered by the Poynter Institute Emma and her cohort of senior news executives from across the country benefitted from a year of intensive coaching, peer group sessions and other resources to tackle their newsrooms’ most pressing business challenges. Supported by grants from the Knight Foundation and Google News Initiative, the program fosters audience growth, business model innovation and industry revitalization
THE BALTIMORE BANNER
2024 BY THE NUMBERS
33.9 FROM 13.4+ MILLIO UNIQUE USER
191,327 ACTIVE EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS 11% APP
SOURCE: GOOGLE ANALYTICS
7,148 STORIES PUBLISHED
85 NEWSROOM STAFF & PERSONNEL
2024 EVENTS
The Baltimore Banner’s events program creates spaces to exchange ideas, form partnerships and inspire positive change. These gatherings not only recognize individuals making a difference but also reflect the newsroom’s commitment to fostering trust and transparency. By opening its doors to the public, The Baltimore Banner strengthens its role as a community resource, bridging the gap between journalism and the people it serves.
Emerging Leaders
The second annual Emerging Leaders award ceremony in 2024 was a night dedicated to recognizing outstanding individuals shaping Baltimore’s future. Honorees like Max Altmark (CFO, Concentric), Dr. Christina Brown (Pediatrician, Kaiser Permanente), and Chelsea Crawford (Partner, Brown, Goldstein & Levy) were selected for their leadership, service and innovation. The evening included a dinner and awards presentation, reinforcing the value of generational leadership in fostering a brighter future for Baltimore.
InnovateHER
On May 9, 2024, The Baltimore Banner hosted its inaugural InnovateHER event at The Butterfly Room in Baltimore This empowering evening brought together dynamic female executives for candid discussions about leadership, cultural impact and self-care Guests engaged with influential speakers such as Vanessa Eluma (chief of staff at T Rowe Price), Jawauna M Greene (assistant secretary of transportation at the Maryland Department of Transportation) and Colette D Honorable (executive vice president at Exelon Corporation), among others InnovateHER created a unique platform for networking, knowledge-sharing and celebrating the achievements of women across industries
The Baltimore Banner honors 13 community leaders at its 2024 Emerging Leaders ceremony. (Steve Ruark for The Baltimore Banner)
iMPACT Maryland
The Baltimore Banner presented the second annual iMPACT Maryland thought leadership conference at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall on October 1, 2024 This immersive, daylong event brought together nearly 800 participants with Maryland’s most innovative leaders to discuss critical community issues, including the opioid epidemic and the state’s recovery from the Key Bridge collapse
Keynote speaker David Rubenstein, the new owner of the Baltimore Orioles, shared insights on his vision for the team, emphasizing his goal to "make a great baseball team" rather than focus on profits. While he refrained from detailing long-term contract plans, he acknowledged that investment in the team was essential for success He also discussed anticipated Camden Yards renovations, including improved seating, upgraded player amenities, and enhanced food options, with completion expected by 2028
The conference also featured discussions on Maryland’s health care workforce shortage, artificial intelligence applications, teen mental health challenges and the future of the state’s port following the Key Bridge collapse. Governor Wes Moore and other officials expressed optimism about securing federal funding for a replacement bridge, while industry leaders highlighted the potential ripple effects of a labor strike at Baltimore’s ports
A panel on the opioid crisis revealed recent findings that Baltimore’s overdose rates far exceed those of other major cities, underscoring the urgency of targeted interventions Speakers included health and addiction experts alongside Banner journalists, whose 2024 investigative reporting brought the severity of the crisis to light. Panelists called for transparency in allocating settlement funds from pharmaceutical companies to ensure effective solutions. The discussion was moderated by Dean Baquet, executive editor of The New York Times’ Local Investigations Fellowship, whose collaboration made The Banner’s reporting on the opioid crisis possible
Additionally, discussions on education reform emphasized the need to expand apprenticeships for high school students as part of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.
Through these events, The Baltimore Banner continues to foster meaningful connections and highlight the inspiring individuals who are shaping Baltimore’s future
David Rubenstein speaks with Baltimore Banner Editor-in-Chief Kimi Yoshino during iMPACT Maryland. (Eric Thompson for The Baltimore Banner)
IMPACT HIGHLIGHTS
HOUSING SERVICES
As The Banner enters its third full year in operation, we are seeing many examples of significant impact that originate with stories that were published months or even years prior, as was the case with a story from reporters Hallie Miller and Meredith Cohn in March 2023. Their article shined a light on a little-known pilot program in several Maryland counties called Assistance in Community Integration Services (ACIS), an experimental initiative to fund various housing services to support Maryland’s most medically fragile residents on Medicaid.
Miller and Cohn’s first story on ACIS in March 2023 highlighted the program’s success at improving health and housing outcomes for beneficiaries while saving on health care costs by reducing emergency room visits and hospitalizations Despite the program’s cost savings and efficacy, their reporting chronicled threats to its existence as hospitals withdrew to save on short-term costs. Their reporting yielded increased awareness from the public and policymakers alike, and in January 2024, they published a follow-up story: Maryland had allocated $5.4 million to fund the program and expand access across the state. The investment also included funding for affordable housing, renter protections and homeownership assistance
KEY BRIDGE DISASTER
The Baltimore Banner's reporting played a crucial role in informing the public following the tragic Key Bridge collapse on March 26, 2024 Banner reporters were among the first on the scene when the bridge was struck by a container ship, providing essential coverage on the acute circumstances of the disaster, including traffic disruptions and efforts to support the families of the construction workers who tragically lost their lives In the initial days after the collapse, The Banner published hundreds of reports that detailed the ongoing effects on Baltimore, Maryland, and the Port of Baltimore’s future.
The Banner continued its efforts to investigate and report on the aftermath of the collapse throughout 2024 and will continue to do so for the months and years to come Coverage has included detailed reporting on disaster relief spending, the rebuilding process and the ongoing challenges faced by those most closely affected by the tragedy
Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner
2024 VOTER GUIDE
The Baltimore Banner’s politics team worked tirelessly in 2024 to provide a comprehensive resource for voters throughout Maryland, with candidate information for every race from the hyperlocal to the national, coverage of the issues and campaigns, and all of the practical information community members needed to cast ballots by mail or at the polls
Helmed by Senior Politics Editor John O’Connor, the reporting team designed and published the 2024 Voter Guide ahead of the Maryland primary election and relaunched it in advance of the general election in November
The guide included a wealth of information to empower Maryland voters to make informed choices at the ballot box in alignment with their priorities and values. The guide included local election- specific content for Baltimore and Baltimore County, as well as targeted races in Anne Arundel County, Howard County, Harford County and Carroll County. The primary features of the guide were profiles of candidates in each race covered and an outline of all ballot questions Thanks to support from the Robert W Deutsch Foundation, The Banner was able to offer the Voter Guide without a paywall, thereby allowing access to anyone looking for guidance in their voting
JUNIUS WILSON AT THE AVAM
Junius Wilson's journey from backyard artist to featured exhibitor at the American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) is a testament to resilience and creativity
Following a powerful Baltimore Banner feature by reporter Rona Kobell in March 2024, Wilson’s work gained significant attention, ultimately leading to an invitation from the museum to showcase his art in the fall 2025 exhibition titled “Fantastic Realities Truth Stranger than Fiction.” After suffering a traumatic accident in the late 1980s that left him battling chronic pain and severe depression, Wilson turned to art as a means of healing
Inspired by a vision he believed was given to him by God, Wilson began carving figures from wood, often seeing the images emerge as he worked His Egyptian-inspired sculptures, including pyramids, mythological figures and symbolic carvings, reflect both his personal struggles and broader cultural commentary
In anticipation of the AVAM show, Wilson held an open house at his home in Woodlawn last fall, where 60 guests marveled at his expansive outdoor collection. His sculptures range from a striking pyramid and a three-breasted goddess to symbolic pieces addressing themes like human duality and social struggle.
Wilson’s creations, deeply personal yet widely resonant, captivated attendees with their emotional depth and intricate detail Despite ongoing cancer treatment, Wilson continues to sculpt with unwavering dedication His work's upcoming museum debut, along with the powerful impact of The Banner’s reporting, has helped Wilson fulfill his long-held dream of sharing his visionary art with the world
Eric Thompson for The Baltimore Banner
Kirk McKoy/The Baltimore Banner
CT
OID OVERDOSES
The Baltimore Banner’s investigative reporting has played a crucial role in raising wareness and driving action to address Baltimore’s opioid overdose crisis.
The Baltimore Banner’s investigative reporting has played a crucial role in raising awareness and driving action to address Baltimore’s opioid overdose crisis In late May 2024, The Banner published the first story in a powerful twoyear investigation led by Alissa Zhu, Nick Thieme and photojournalist Jessica Gallagher Conducted in partnership with The New York Times through its Local Investigations Fellowship, the series uncovered that Baltimore’s overdose death rate was double that of any other major U.S. city. This alarming revelation was tied to policy inconsistencies, public agency neglect, and the growing presence of fentanyl-laced opioids. The investigation’s meticulous methodology earned widespread praise, appearing on the front page of The New York Times and prompting immediate responses from public agencies and lawmakers
The reporting shed light on the struggles of an overlooked generation of older Black men and exposed exploitative practices by government-funded addiction treatment providers. Within days of the series’ release, regulators moved to shut down a troubled treatment program, and city leaders introduced new measures to address the overdose epidemic. The Banner’s reporting continues to make an impact, with plans to continue distributing its data to researchers and media organizations to further explore the opioid crisis on a national scale
Donna Bruce waves her praise flags in the street newly renamed for her son, Devon Wellington, a victim of overdose, in June 2024. (Jessica Gallagher/The Baltimore Banner)
Jessica Gallagher/The Baltimore Banner
Jessica Gallagher/The Baltimore Banner
The investigation’s influence reached beyond Baltimore
Following collaborations with newsrooms across the country in late 2024, six local news organizations published reports simultaneously on opioid crises in their respective regions using The Banner’s dataset. The reporting also directly influenced state action when officials ordered outpatient addiction treatment provider PHA Healthcare to cease operations and transition patients to alternative programs This decision came just three days after The Banner and The New York Times revealed that many PHA patients were housed in unsanitary conditions where drug use was prevalent.
In recognition of her role in this vital reporting, Alissa Zhu was recently named one of Editor & Publisher’s “Tomorrow’s News Trailblazers ”
Top Right: A wellness suite at Basilica Place, a Catholic Charities Senior Community, where residents will soon be able to receive addiction treatment services from a nurse and peer recovery specialist (Jessica Gallagher/The Baltimore Banner)
Bottom Right: A Bmore POWER worker distributes Narcan, a brand name for the generic naloxone, in 2023 (Jessica Gallagher/The Baltimore Banner)
Del. Sandy Rosenberg, a Baltimore City Democrat, introduced a bill that calls for the Maryland Department of Health to submit reports on how it is improving regulation of addiction treatment programs and recovery residences. (Ulysses Muñoz/The Baltimore Banner)
Jessica Gallagher/The Baltimore Banner
Jessica Gallagher/The Baltimore Banner
IMPACT HIGHLIGHTS
GREATER GRACE WORLD OUTREACH INVESTIGATION
The Baltimore Banner’s 2024 investigation into allegations of sexual abuse within Greater Grace World Outreach has generated significant public response, driven calls for accountability and prompted action to investigate within the church for the first time Beginning in June 2024, The Banner published a series of reports uncovering extensive claims of child sexual abuse involving leaders at the megachurch, which has thousands of members across Maryland and around the world.
Reported by Jessica Calefati, Julie Scharper and Justin Fenton, the series amplified the voices of survivors and exposed how church leaders downplayed or ignored abuse allegations In response to the investigation, Greater Grace World Outreach publicly acknowledged the extensive allegations for the first time and promised to conduct a thorough investigation and implement changes to its policies and leadership
The impact of the reporting has been felt both inside and outside the church community. Survivors, relatives and supporters held a protest outside the church’s East Baltimore headquarters, coinciding with an international church convention. Protesters displayed signs reading “Not one more” and “Silent no more,” calling for meaningful change and accountability from church leaders Some attendees shared their personal experiences of abuse and criticized the church’s leadership, including Pastor John Love, for mishandling past allegations
While some church members expressed support for the survivors, others avoided engaging with the protestors The investigation continues to inspire dialogue, as survivors and advocates push for systemic changes to protect future generations. The reporters were recognized with the second-place prize for local reporting from the Peter F. Collier Award for Ethics in Journalism, which celebrates acts of journalism by student and professional journalists that meet the highest ethical standards in the face of pressure or incentives to do otherwise
Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner
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h Arsenault *
n Baer
dy Bernstein *
kbaud Giving Fund
Blaher * Blouny
nda Bodian
Boyle
dy Burda * Bykowicz *
y Carlson
Choquette *
Clark *
Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner
Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner
Kylie Cooper/The Baltimore Banner
SUPPORTER CIRCLE (CONT.)
Anonymous
Zach Cohen *
Grant Corley
Jennifer Cummings *
Renee Danziger
Tate DeCray
Ryan Doyle *
David Drasin
Lydia and Charles Duff
James Duncan-Welke
Maura Dwyer *
Alan Eason *
Carol Edwards *
Lana Eisenberg *
Kathy Ely *
Joe Flynn
Marjorie Forster *
Jesse Fussell
Hugh Gordon *
Margo Halle *
Elise Handelman *
Edward Hargadon
John Hartmann
Molly Hathaway
Sally Heaphy *
Katie Hearn
Margot Heller
Sandra Hess
Charles Hoffman *
Kathy Hostetter
Monty and Stephen Howard
Tami Ito *
Karen Jackson
Jennifer Berk and Neil Khan
Cindy and Tom Kelly
Tom Kenney
Chris Kingsley
Kathy and Jon Korin
Jeffrey Kosnett *
Mary Jo Lazun *
Barbara Lewis
Ellen Lupton
Martha Marani *
Scott Markman
Anne Maxson
Timothy McGoldrick
John McIntyre
Philip Moeller
Lymari Morales *
Morgan Stanley GIFT
Kevin Myer
National Philanthropic Trust
Karen Nelson
Cathy Newman
Patricia Nicholls *
PayPal Giving Fund
Steven Pessagno
Dan Pontious *
Linda Porrino
Eric Redman
Jeanne and Anthony Riley
Seth Robbins
Tanya Rodich *
Maggie Rogers *
Edwin Rommel *
Michael Rothberg
Jimmy Rouse
The Rouse Family Foundation, Inc.
Debra Rubino
Don Schaffner
Catherine and Kenneth Shanks
Justin Short *
Julian Simmons *
Pat Smerdzinski
Julia Smith
David St. John *
Kay Starr
Leon Steinberg *
(*) Recurring donor
Emma Stokes
Kameron Straine *
Susan and Brian Sullam
Susan Talbott
Diane Tichnell *
Lisa Tuzo
Ellen Ulken
David Vaeth *
Sylvia Valdez
Robert Wack
William Walsh *
Mike Ward
John Weber
Susan Wehr *
Jeffrey Willis
Robert Winder
Joanna Pyper and Richard
Wormsbecher
Nina and Marvin Yudell
FRIENDS OF THE BANNER
Uhmar Alston *
William Bailey *
Patricia Blanchard *
Collin Campbell *
Carol Carey *
Karen Carroll *
Alice Chambers *
Lynn Chambers *
Jeffrey Coleman *
Marcio Duffles *
Paula Dufour *
Doris Duren *
Jacqueline Fish *
Colleen France *
Barbara Golaski *
Susan Gordon *
Julie Gross *
Ulysses Muñoz/The Baltimore Banner
Wesley Lapointe for The Baltimore Banner
FRIENDS OF THE BANNER (CONT.)
Kyle Haas *
Connie Hankins *
Michael Hill *
Valerie Hirsch *
Janet Johnson *
Karen Jones *
Jane Jordan *
Faith Kauffmann *
Ross McCausland *
Kristen McGuire *
Cecilia Meisner *
Ed Morman *
Matt Plumer *
Juan Rivera *
Eric Saiontz *
Maxwell Schechter *
Liz Schuelke *
Robert Shapiro *
Graeme Sloan *
Beth Stekler *
Seth Stern *
Gregory Stitz *
Patricia Sundberg *
Tim Wheeler *
Victoria Willard *
Zaniya Williams *
James Willmott *
Darius Withers *
Warren Wynn *
SUPPORTERS
Anonymous
Jane Abel
Don Akchin
Tiffany Ake
Elizabeth Alban
Steven Albertini
Connie Alexich
Mary Allin
Patricia Alt
Merry Alterman
Joe Amato
Audrey Amidon
John Andryszak
Elizabeth Aoki
Deborah Armstrong
Sandy Arnette
CJ Arrindell
Theresa Arvidson
Deborah Auger
Jennifer Austin
Gilly Babb
Marianne Bacci
Anne Bailliere
K Andrea Baker
Leslie Ballard
Ken Bancroft
Charles Barber
(*) Recurring donor
Deborah Barbour
Linda Barclay
Lillian Barnes
Lisa Barron
Alan Bell
Alexandra Bell
Joan Bell
Katherine Belz
Eileen Benecke
Katy Benjamin
Kathryn Berling
Kunnigunda Biener
Mary Bird
Brick Blade
Brian Blatter
David Blewett
David Blois
Jennie Bloom
Lee Bone
Janice Booth
Neal Borden
Kellie Botto
Nancy Bowen
Margaret Bowler
Ann Bracken
Chris Bracken
Lewis Bracy
James Brady
Amy Brennan
Gerry Brewster
Rona Brinlee
Anna Lisa Briseno
Jessica Gallagher/The Baltimore Banner
Sadie Brooks
Sarah Brown
Pamela Brownfield
Ward Bucher
Robert Buchler
Beth Bugnaski
Cassandra Burke
Karl Burke
Jack Burkert
Richard Burns
Richard Buxton
John Byrnes
Beth and Tom Casey
Neil Castine
Teresa Cattaneo
Christopher Cavas *
Lydia and Burnet Chalmers
Ron Charles
Jillian Chavis
Gilbert Chen
Richard Chisolm
Michael Chronister
Nancy Civin
Jane Clark
Ann Clary Gordon
Adrean Clawson
Tara Clifford *
Caryn Cochran
Jon Coffman
Lewis Cohen
Meg Conner
Amy Connolly
Jo-anna Conrey *
Robert Converse
Barbara Cook
Sarah Cook
Dana Cooper
Stephanie Coppola
Thomas Cosgrove
John Costa
Chris Costa
Sally Craig
Matthew Crenson
Barbara Cronin
Tyler Crowe
Gislin Dagnelie
Kathryn Dahl
Lucy Dalglish
Pam Darwin
Betty Deacon
Marie Delaney
Dona DeZube
Thomas Diamond
Curt DiCamillo
Marrie Diehl
Suzanne DiFonzo
Joseph DiMaggio
Camille Dobson
Thomas Dolan
Leah Donovan
Jessica Dorsey *
Mike Drinks
Holly DuBois
Muri Dueppen
Deborah Dugan
Danny Duhan
Barbie Dunning
Rick Dunshee
Andrea Dwyer
Gayle Economos
Florence Eddins
Jean Edelstein
John Eidleman
Catherine Blake and Frank
Eisenberg
Willard Elder
Jay Elinsky
John Ellis
Lynda Ellis
Marcy Emmer
Forrest Empey-kohl
Margaret Engvall
Julia Erickson
Monica and Bill Fabbri
James Fackler
Patricia Fanning
Alexa and Nauder Faraday
Mollie Fein
Mary Felter
Jeanie Ferretti
Linda Fibich
Deborah and Bryan Fichter
Suzy Filbert
Gunnar Fisher
Grace O'Neill and Charles Flexner
Eileen Flock
Mercedes Fol
Joe Foss
Ruth Franklin
John Freedman
Frank Friedman
Tema Friedman
Joanne and Jack Fruchtman
JoAnn Fruchtman
The Fund for the Common Good
Debra Furchgott
Julie Gallagher
Patrice Gallagher
Gabriela Galvin
Margaret Garroway
Penny George
Sandi Gerstung
Laura Gillis
Roberta Girardi
GlaxoSmithKline Foundation
Paul Gleichauf
Kristin Glenn
Sandra Gohn
Eden Goldberg
Manuel Gonzalez
Margaret Goodlin
Joe Goodman (*) Recurring donor
Stuart Gordon
Michael Gordy
Laura Gough
Bette Gould
Amelia Grabowski
Sally Grant
Edward Gratz
Ronald Gray
Ferdinand Greeff
Charles Green
John Green
Mark Green
Andrew Greenberg
Doug Greenberg
Melissa Greenblatt
Pete Greene
Kate Griesemer
Maxine Grosshans
Andrew Grossman
Nancy Gurganus
James Gutman
Melissa and Randy Guttman
Annelise Hafer
Connie Haine
Bill Halbert
Tom Hall
Joanne Hamilton
John Hancock
Rosanne Hanratty
J. Hardy
Margaret Harley
Chris Hartlove
Gregory Hatfield
Barbara Hayden
Mary Heisner
Helen Heller
Pierre Henkart
Mark Hensman
Colleen Fahey and Christopher
Hertz
Beverly Higgs
Emily Higgs
Marilyn Higgs
Jim Hirabayashi
Nancy Hisky
Madonna Hitchcock
Ellen Hochman
Michelle Hofmann
Amy Hollyfield
Chris Holmes
Philip Holmes
Stephanie Holtz
Veida Horn
Larry Hothem
Douglas Hough
Donna Howard
Florence Hughes
Benjamin Hulac
Andrew Hundertmark
Erin Hunter
Rich Iams
Linda Ibex
Ifeanyi Igwulu
Eric Thompson for The Baltimore Banner
Peggy Ireland
Kathleen and Arnold Isaacs
Mark Isenberg
Richard Israel
Linda Jacobs
Reza Jafari
Rachel Jakubiak
Tom Janssen
Mary Lou Jay
Jeanette Jenkins
Thomas Jenkins
Philip Jimeno
D Johns
D. Johnson
Mark Johnson
Mary Jo Johnson
Andre Jones
Larry Kamanitz
Jerri Kamicker
Michael Kannen
Suzanne Kantt
Anita Kassof
Elana Katz
Michael Katz
Ruthanne Kaufman
Joyce Keating
Louise Keelty
Deanna Keesecker
Lois and Dale Kelberman
Rachel Keller
Kevin Kelley
Brian Kelly
Miriam Kelly
Maggie and Bruce Kennedy
Mary Kennedy
Harriet Kerr
Cathy Kessler
Shannon Kief
Phyllis Kilby
Angela Kim
John King
Julie Kingsley
Andrew Kochis
Nancy Kopecky
Davida Kovner
Angie Kozlowski
Kathleen Kuklenski
Sandra Kull
Charles Kuning
Janet LaBella
Stanford Lamberg
Cindy Lamberts
Elliott Langbaum
Anne Laraison Fleck
Aidan Larsen
Riza Laudin
Sarah Leach
Lisa Lepic
Jill Levin
Eric Levine
Harris Levy
Andrea LeWinter
Carmello Libassi
Tony Lim
Alice Lium
Patty Loll
Sarah Longson
Luz Lopez
Karen Lubieniecki
Helene Luce
George Lundskow
Richard Lynch
Kathleen and Chris Lyon
Alec MacGillis
Cris Imle and Colin Mackenzie
Gary Mahrenholz
Linda Malay-Koehler
Rosemary Malone
Jennifer Manning
Nancy Marbury
Abby Markoe
Jo Marvan
Peter Masley
Bob Matha
Paul Matlin
Danielle Mattoon
Fay Mauro
Margaret Mays
Michele Mazzocco
Cindy McCubbin
Matthew McDermott
Anne McDonough
Maia McFliggins
Karen McGee
Maura McMullen
Francis McNally
Beth McNamara
William McNew
Tony Meadows
Tim Meredith
Julianna Merendino
Michael Metz
Amy Meyers
Angela Miller
Melanie Miller
Barbara Minnick
John Mitchell
Mary Mohr
Barbara Moore
Chris Moore
Dana Moore
Jennifer Morabito
Jon Morgan
Anne Morris
Catherine Morris
Lucy Mueller
Kathryn Murray
Jerry Jackson/The Baltimore Banner
Jessica Gallagher/The Baltimore Banner
Robert Murray
Skip Nees
Network For Good
Marty Niland
Jeane Nitsch
Barbara Nixon
John Nolting
Heather Norris
Weiss Nusraty
Cathleen O'Brien
Nancy O'Brien
Mary Monica O'Connor
Stephen O'Dell
Brian O'Donnell
Patricia O'Neill
Eric O'Reilly
Anthony Ortenzi *
Jim Osteen
Peter O'Toole
Kristen Palmer
Jennifer Palmieri
Thomas Peddy
Mia Pefinis
Laura Perry *
Gregg Petersen
Susan Pfeiffer
Erika Pfeiler
Bradford Phillips
Bonnie Phipps
Jo Pinder
Anthony Pinto
Paul Pittman
Cynthia Plackmeyer
Daryl Plevy
Virginia Naylor and Jim Potter
James Power
Mark Pressman
Linda Prudente
Anna Pullen
Mabinty Quarshie
Louis Randall
Raymond James Charitable
Marie Razulis
Scott Reichert
Kathleen Reif *
James Reising
David Rheingold
Leslie Riley
Richard Robbins
Lowell Roberts
Polly Roberts
Norianna Robinson
Rex Robison
Daniel Rosen
Benjamin Rosenberg
Ben Ross
Martin Rothberg
Joseph Roziner
Catherine Ryan
Katharine Rylaarsdam
Dorotheann Sadusky
Steven Sager
Mark Salditch
Laura and Bill Salganik
Marc Salganik
David Sattler
Jenny Schaefer
Margaret and Joseph Schaefer
Kate Scherr
Mitchell Scherr
Ronald Schimel
William Schlegel
Hunter Schloss
Gil Schmerler
Daniel Schmitt
Dara Schnee
Harvey Schwartz
Richard Sciacca
Lisa Scrivener
Jane Seigler
Julie Serven
Libby and Stephen Sfekas
Sharon Shea
Leah Shepherd
Tom Sherwood
Edith Shine
Denise Shipley
Michael Shisler
Jon Shorr
Jeffrey Short
Catherine Shultz
Dori Siegenthaler
Ryan Simmons
Anne Sinclair
Jack Sirica
Mark Sissman
Joan Skerritt
Dean Skibinski
William Slack
Julian Slade
Donald Small
Claire Smith
Darlene Smith
Eric Smith
Gail Smith
Kim Smith
Linda Smith
Peter Smith
Charles Smolkin
John Sondheim
Sue Song
Cindy Spitzer
Brian Spiva
Cathy Steel
Rona Stein
Edward Steinhouse
Mary Ellen Stepowany
Andy Stern
Kate Stevens
Sarah Stevens-Rayburn
Kimberly Stewart
Thomas Stout
Sean Streck
Sloan Stribling
Linda St Thomas
Catherine Sullivan
Seth Sutel
Steven Sutor
Jessie Tam
Terry Teays
Fred Teeter
Nebi Teferra
Donald Thoms
Candy Thomson
Craig Thornton
Margaret Tierney
Christina Tkacik
Transform Mid-Atlantic
Lisa Trapani
Jon Traunfeld
Mark Travaglini
Elizabeth Trimble
George Trout
Linda Trout
Andrea Tucker
Nancy Kass and Sean Tunis
Lawrence Turner
Steve Turnham
Joe Urban
Martin Urquhart
Ellen Uzelac
Peter Van Buren *
Raymond Van Houtte
Jennifer Van Kirk
Reeve Vanneman
Rachel Varn
(*) Recurring Donor
Nana Vaughn
Marko Velikonja
Debbie Vo
David Vorel
Pat Vorel
Lea Wade
Tyler Waldman
Tom Waldron
Kenneth Walsh
Deborah Ward
Dorothy Weatherby
Kay Webster
Terry Weigel
Linda Weimer
Jeffrey Weiner
Frederick Weinstein
Chris Wells
Chris Whitaker *
Corliss Whitaker
Richard White
Patricia Whitlock
Ann Whitman
Gren Whitman
Margaret Whitman
Scott Whittier
Peggy Widman
Ted Wiese
Del Wilber
Amy and Jack Wilen
Gregg Wilhelm
John Williams
Stephen Williams
Susan Williams
Jesse Salazar and Tom Williams
Joe Willmott
Laurie Wilmot
Paul Wiseman
Virginia Wiswell
Lawrence Wolcott
Vonda Wolcott
Michael Wolf
Joel Wolfe
Gerry Yeager
Beverley Young
Vincent Zagorski
JoAnne Zoller
Ulysses Muñoz/The Baltimore Banner
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this report. If you notice an error or omission, please do not hesitate to reach out by sending an email to The Baltimore Banner Philanthropy department at giving@thebaltimorebanner.com.
We deeply value the opportunity to correct the record and celebrate your support properly.
Ulysses Muñoz/The Baltimore Banner