On Saturday, August 10, Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton, his father, Derrek, and his brother, Tyler, cut the ribbon for the newly renovated Hamilton Family Weight Room at St. Frances Academy. The weight room needed major upgrades. The Hamiltons, along with other investors, have transformed the weight room into a state-of-the-art facility with new equipment, ceilings, and fresh paint.
Credit: Reeta Hubbard
When Derrek Hamilton reached out to me last week to come to St. Frances Academy, I thought it was to watch a practice of one of the Catholic high school’s nationally acclaimed sports programs. But he had something bigger and better in mind. Something impactful. Something that would help build a legacy not only for St. Frances Academy but for the Hamilton family during its tenure in Baltimore.
St. Frances Academy was founded in Baltimore in 1828 and its sports programs are among the most coveted in the country. Nationally, the school is best known for its football and basketball programs. But national notoriety doesn’t necessarily equal an unlimited cash flow. The school’s outdated facilities were faulty, with old ceilings and equipment in need of upgrades.
Kyle Hamilton was drafted 14th overall by the Ravens in 2022, coming out of the University of Notre Dame. In his very young career, Hamilton has made a name for himself as one of the NFL’s best safeties.
Kyle Hamilton was drafted 14th overall by the Ravens in 2022, coming out of the University of Notre Dame. In his very young career, Hamilton has made a name for himself as one of the NFL’s best safeties. Hamilton made the Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie Team in his first year and was named an All-Pro and Pro Bowl safety the next year.
Once Derrek Hamilton knew that Baltimore was where his son was headed after the NFL Draft, he wanted to make an impact. Hamilton, a former basketball player who was drafted by the New Jersey Nets and eventually played overseas, has dedicated himself to helping his sons get acclimated in their career paths. “Once Kyle was drafted here, I wanted my family’s name to leave a mark here, and I wanted to do it in the urban community because I think that is where we are needed the most,” he said.
“I went to a [St. Frances] basketball game, I went downstairs and that was the moment I knew I wanted to help,” he said. Hasson Massenburg, a local friend of Hamilton’s, connected him to Nick Myles, St. Frances’ athletic director. After deciding that St. Frances was the school he wanted to help, Hamilton started reaching out to investors to help raise money to upgrade the school’s weight room. A former athlete himself, Hamilton knew he wanted to help the local sports community where he felt he was most useful.
One can assume that the Ravens will open the checkbook up for Kyle, which would keep him in Baltimore for the foreseeable future. He can begin negotiations for an extension after 2024, meaning he could be in the Baltimore area for years to come, which is why it was important for him to begin his legacy within the community and on the football field.
The Hamilton family’s investment in St. Frances is consistent with former Ravens players getting involved in the community during and after their time in Baltimore. Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis was a staple in the community for years — his Ray’s Summer Days programs raised money for his foundation, which helps disadvantaged youth and families in distress. Hall of Famer Ed Reed adopted Booker T. Washington Middle School and has continued to support it since he retired from the NFL in 2015. And while Kyle might not be as visible as Lewis, Reed, or other former players, he wants his impact to be equal, with the help of his dad.
Derrek Hamilton says that he’s not one to be told no, and expects more investors to jump on to help with additional upgrade needs, such as the gym, so that the school’s facilities can match the impact of its national fanfare.
Derrek Hamilton says that he’s not one to be told no, and expects more investors to jump on to help with additional upgrade needs, such as the gym, so that the school’s facilities can match the impact of its national fanfare. “I’m pretty sure we’ll get a lot more people to help these kids out because it’s a staple of Baltimore,” he says. “They have put out amazing athletes and I think [St. Frances] should be shining.” He calls St. Frances his “baby” since it’s the first community he’s helped in Baltimore. And while he says the family is open to helping other communities, he wants to focus on St. Frances Academy first, so that it can have nothing but the best.
As Derrek, Kyle and Tyler cut the ribbon to open the training room, an eruption of applause filled the hallway. Dr. Curtis Turner, the head of the school, blessed the room. The patrons got to see all of the new renovations, breathe in the new smell of fresh paint and equipment, look around at the changes made, and line up to take pictures with an All-Pro safety under the neon-lit sign that said “The Hamilton Family Weight Room.”
The Hamilton family has officially put its stamp on a Baltimore community, with more to come.
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