By Krystina Lucido

http://www.pressboxonline.com/story.cfm?id=6187

It's not very often fans get to see Baltimore Ravens out of
their football uniforms. It is even more rare fans get to see
players in server uniforms.

May 10 was Celebrity Server Night at Morton's Steakhouse to
benefit Matt Birk's HIKE Foundation, providing at-risk youth in
Baltimore with educational opportunities. The Ravens center announced two new initiatives to assist with his mission under his program Ready, Set, Read!, one of which is a scholastic book program giving students vouchers to purchase books to bring home. At $250 a head, the event at the Charles Street steakhouse raised more than $75, 000 for these programs.

"It was Morton's idea," Birk said. "They've done this in other markets but they offered it to us and through the generosity of sponsors -- Northwestern Mutual, 105.7 The Fan and Morton's with all of their support -- we were able to put all this together and sell out the event. It's going to be a great night."

Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron and five players joined the Morton's staff for the evening: guards Ben Grubbs and Chris Chester, offensive tackles Joe Reitz and Michael Oher, and quarterback Joe Flacco.  

"I think it's just kind of a way to switch it up, making it a little more fun for people rather than just having the typical, same thing you see every other place," Flacco said.

But being skilled with a football doesn't necessarily translate to trays and plates, which is most likely why 6-foot-4, 310-pound Oher stuck with refilling wine glasses.  

"I'm concerned about a lot of things," Flacco said. "I don't know what but there's a lot of things to be concerned about. I don't want to spill water on anybody."

"We're just hoping that no one gets burned," Birk said, jokingly echoing Flacco's concerns. "We'll pay for someone's dry cleaning. ... Luckily we've been briefed by the excellent staff here at Morton's, and they've kept it pretty simple for us which I think is a good idea." 

The sold-out room barely left the players much space to circulate with their tuna tar-tar, stopping to take pictures and sign the footballs given to guests. But once the attendees took their seats, it was time for the players to get to work.

Reitz was in Morton's server Becky Holton's section. At a loss of what to do, the 5-foot brunette promptly grabbed his hand, dragging him to the kitchen to load his arm with salad plates. Ten minutes later, a red-faced Reitz approached Holton proclaiming, "I put pepper on everybody's salad. Do you think I could stand in the freezer for like 10 minutes?"  

After Birk finished with his introduction, it took him a long while to make it to the other side of the room where the open kitchen stood. By that time, Cameron had almost finished serving his section salads. "I haven't seen Matt do anything yet!" Cameron joked while skillfully balancing three plates on one arm.

"In today's economy," Cameron said, "where everyone is having a tough time financially, as a professional coach and professional players, we're very fortunate to be able to give back to the community, especially in the area of education, which we all know matters to all of us."

Photos by Sabina Moran/PressBox

Posted May 11, 2010