STAKEHOLDERS/SPONSORS “ANGELS” LIST GROWS

As ChiS&E approaches the end of its 7th year of providing free Saturday classes for Chicago Public School (CPS) students and their parents, it is reminded that it could not do the work it does without the generous support of foundations and corporations in agreement with the principles of the organization.  Some have renewed their financial commitment year after year.  Others are making their initial investment in the future success of students charged up by science, technology, mathematics and engineering.   Here’s a few of those “angels.”  

• The WK Kellogg Foundation recently awarded ChiS&E the second payment from a three year $450,000 grant in the amount of $165,000.  The grant was awarded in 2014 in recognition of ChiS&E’s efforts to strengthen early learning outcomes of vulnerable children by building capacity of families, schools and communities.  Kellogg specifically acknowledged ChiS&E for developing and implementing transformative family engagement programs in the field of early childhood education. ”ChiS&E is an exceptional organization that shares our commitment to family engagement,” said Carla Thompson, vice president for program strategy at WKKF.  “They recognize that family engagement is a core strategy to improving learning outcomes, and setting children on a path to success.”

• The Albert Pick, Jr. Fund made a contribution of $20,000 for general operating expenses.  Lauren Krieg, senior program officer observed, “The Albert Pick Jr. Fund believes that it is very important to engage children in STEM in an age-appropriate and engaging way from early childhood through adulthood. While most STEM programs are aimed at middle and high school students, ChiS&E’s strategy of providing high quality and fun programming for school-age children and middle school and its two-generation approach is unique and effective.  The Albert Pick Jr. Fund is proud to support Chi-SE.”

• Motorola Solutions Foundation awarded ChiS&E a $10,000 Innovation Generation grant to expose middle grade students and their parents to physics and mathematical concepts.   In announcing the award Matt Blakely, executive director of Motorola Solutions Foundation commented, “These grants support educational experiences that inspire students to create the innovations that will shape our society’s future,” adding “Organizations like ChiS&E are teaching tomorrow’s leaders that careers in engineering and technology are not only fun, but also within their reach.” 

• Andrew Hesselbach, vice president of Construction at Peoples Gas when making a $7,500 contribution to expand the program to the 7^th grade had this to say:  “We’re delighted to support ChiS&E’s Middle Grades Mathematicians’ program.  It’s a unique way to enthuse students and parents about developing strong STEM skills for future careers in engineering and science.” 

• Additional support was provided by BP, Colonel Stanley McNeil Foundation, Control Engineering, and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Office of the Chancellor, College of Engineering, and Department of Mathematics).