BTS fans unite in Baltimore for community service ahead of concerts
BALTIMORE —
BTS fans, known as the ARMY, are coming together in Baltimore ahead of the global K-pop band’s concerts at M&T Bank Stadium on Aug. 10 and 11, combining their excitement with community service and fundraising efforts.
Katie McGrath-Studniarz, a dedicated fan, shared her enthusiasm for the upcoming events.
“I’m so excited. I actually saw them last night in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and I got back at 3:30 this morning,” she said.
Fans are organizing social meetups, karaoke events, and pre-concert gatherings, including activities like making freebies to trade with fellow fans. McGrath-Studniarz, who plans to attend both Baltimore concerts, emphasized the ARMY’s commitment to giving back.
“We invited BTS ARMY to come help clean up the area around the stadium to help, you know, make Baltimore shine and welcome BTS and all the BTS fans into our beautiful city,” she said.
More than a dozen fans from across Maryland recently gathered to pick up trash and beautify the area around the stadium. The group has also partnered with Cakes by Jason, where a portion of cupcake proceeds will be donated to Beat the Streets Baltimore, a nonprofit organization.
“Beat the Streets Baltimore is an organization that uses wrestling to engage kids in their academic careers and personal development, from a holistic approach,” said Lydell Henry, executive director of Beat the Streets. The program serves up to 300 K-12 students annually, helping them build confidence, mental toughness, and perseverance.
McGrath-Studniarz highlighted the collaboration between BTS ARMY and Beat the Streets.
“What better collaboration could we have? BTS ARMY with Beat the Streets—this is a huge organization here in Baltimore, incredible organization. We’ve raised almost $13,000 for them,” she said.
The fundraising goal is $37,000, with an incentive for donors: a raffle for two tickets to the sold-out concerts.
“I’m hoping that people see the charm that Charm City has,” McGrath-Studniarz said.
The BTS concerts are set to take place on Aug. 10 and 11 at M&T Bank Stadium.