Catholic Charities names community center after education advocate Carolyn E. Fugett

Catholic Charities of Baltimore announced it will name its $32 million community center in West Baltimore the Carolyn E. Fugett Intergenerational Center, honoring the beloved community leader whose faith and commitment to West Baltimore shaped generations.

“Carolyn Fugett believed that one person could make a difference in countless lives, and she proved it every day in her steadfast commitment to those in need,” said Dave Kinkopf, executive director of Catholic Charities, in a media release. “By naming this center in her honor, Catholic Charities ensures her legacy of faith, service and hope will live on right here in our community.”

A lifelong devout Catholic and mother of six, Fugett spent nearly a century lifting her neighbors, serving food in a parish pantry, mentoring families or counseling church leaders at the highest level. Though she left school at a young age to support her family, she became an advocate for education, championing Head Start and neighborhood schools, ensuring her own children and many others had the necessary tools to succeed. 

Her son, Jean Fugett Jr., a graduate of the former Cardinal Gibbons School in Baltimore and a decorated former NFL tight end, noted his mother’s staunch belief in education.

“My mom believed education and opportunity could change lives,” Jean Fugett said. “She tirelessly dedicated herself to strengthening families and the West Baltimore community, and our family is deeply honored that Catholic Charities will carry forward her vision through this new space for community members of all ages.”

The Fugett Center, located at the former Alexander Hamilton Elementary School at 800 Poplar Grove St., was designed as a hub serving children, parents and older adults.  The center will provide early childhood education, youth development, workforce training and behavioral health services.

Key features include:

• Nine Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms serving more than 100 children ages 0 to 4 and their families.
• Catholic Charities Success Academies, offering case management, behavioral health support, career pathways and barrier-remediation services.
• A new workforce development partnership will provide training in construction, culinary arts, digital media and screen printing.
• Relocation of the St. Edward’s Food Pantry, which served nearly 8,000 households last year.
• A new home for the Fallstaff Villa Maria Behavioral Health Clinic and expanded services for families and older adults.
• Youth leadership and recreation initiatives in partnership with Baltimore City’s Safe Streets and youth sports programs.

“The Fugett Center represents a bold step forward in our mission to transform lives through education and holistic family support,” said Kevin Creamer, program director of Intergenerational Center at Catholic Charities. “We wanted to honor the very values that guided her remarkable life, and the center will be a beacon of opportunity for West Baltimore families for decades to come.”

Fugett died in 2023 at the age of 97. Her son, Reginald F. Lewis – a philanthropist, lawyer and groundbreaking businessman – is also remembered through the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture located in Baltimore City.

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