OVERLEA, MD—The One Love Foundation has certified Dulaney, Hereford, Overlea, and Towson high schools as Champion Schools in recognition of their commitment, during the 2018-2019 school year, to healthy relationship education.

One Love, a national nonprofit, provides relationship health education through workshops, curriculum, and peer-to-peer discussions. Each school implements One Love in its own way.

In addition to monthly meetings, last school year, the Dulaney High One Love Club hosted a fundraising night at Chipotle, raised funds through selling Dulaney One Love merchandise, handed out Candy Grams to support loving oneself, hosted a workshop with Grace Carmichael (The One Love Foundation’s engagement manager), and led a Yards for Yeardley walk.

The One Love Club at Hereford High started the 2018-19 school year by participating in the Baltimore Running Festival. At Halloween, in collaboration with the House of Ruth Maryland, the students made dinner for House of Ruth clients and made crafts with them. For the winter holidays, the club adopted families from the House of Ruth and held a gift drive to provide them with presents. The club held a dinner and performance fundraiser in collaboration with The Moving Company Dance Center. Proceeds from the event benefited the One Love Foundation. In addition to conducting escalation workshops, the club presented age-appropriate workshops at Hereford Middle School. Members of the club were also interviewed by WMAR-TV about their efforts to promote healthier teen dating.

Overlea High, a health sciences magnet school, used One Love curriculum to reach students in Grades 9 – 12 in their science classes. At the end of the year, a week-long One Love celebration featured daily morning announcements and One Love discussion circles in all classes.

Towson High, has an active One Love Club, which now has 85 members. Last school year, the club held a winter coat drive for the House of Ruth and welcomed a forensic nurse from GBMC’s Safe Program who spoke about domestic violence, sexual assault, and early warning signs. The Towson club partnered with the One Love Club at Hereford to host a One Love dedication game, when the two schools played against each other in lacrosse. As fans entered the game, they encountered a One Love booth from which students shared information about healthy relationships. A raffle at the game (to win One Love t-shirts) raised $425 for the One Love Foundation. Beyond the club, Towson High used One Love curriculum in all Grade 11 health classes.

“Our Champion schools are showing the impact that deep engagement around the topic of healthy relationships can have on a school community,” said One Love Chief Program Officer Megan Shackleton. “It is our honor to recognize their commitment, and we are proud to continue to support these schools in their efforts to create healthier and safer communities.”

One Love was founded in honor of Yeardley Love, a senior at the University of Virginia, who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend. The family learned during the trial that her death could have been prevented had they recognized the signs of an abusive relationship. They founded One Love to educate and empower young people about the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships.