Big Brothers Big Sisters Receives $50,000 Grant To Launch The NIPSCO Academy
Big Brothers Big Sisters Receives $50,000 Grant To Launch The NIPSCO Academy
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Big Brothers Big Sisters Receives $50,000 Grant To Launch The NIPSCO AcademyFORT WAYNE – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana (BBBSNEI) unveiled at a press conference Tuesday its first-ever STEM programming initiative: The NIPSCO Academy: Mentoring Youth in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
The announcement and celebration focused on a $50,000 contribution presented by NIPSCO from the NiSource Charitable Foundation. The grant will allow BBBSNEI to introduce STEM activities to its Bigs and Littles enrolled in the Big Futures mentoring program, which caters specifically to at-risk youth, ages 13 to 22, and focuses on intentional preparation for college, career or military.
Funding will provide for the materials, kits and technology to conduct a series of monthly workshops for one full year, giving youth with the greatest need and least opportunity the ability to foster an interest in STEM programs, and address local issues of developing and retaining qualified graduates within the region, according to a news release from BBBSNEI.
“We want to provide exposure to STEM in a fun and unique way. STEM is something not often offered to our Littles. More than 33 percent of our Littles are ages 13-22 – a great age to introduce STEM. All of the children we provide services to are full of potential and when placed in a one-to-one learning environment with their Big, they display a unique desire and ability to learn,” said Josette Rider.
“There is a strong need to help kids explore career options, and with the help of NIPSCO and the NiSource Charitable Foundation, this initiative will not only provide a head start on educating but also ignite an interest in these fields, uncovering untapped talent within a demographic of children not significantly and purposefully exposed to STEM,” she said.
“At NIPSCO, we’re committed to preparing the next generation with the tools they need to succeed,” said Jennifer Montague, NIPSCO vice president of communications and external affairs. “As such, we are pleased to support the NIPSCO Academy in support of STEM programming taught through one-on-one mentoring, a critical component to education.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana is a nonprofit organization that serves children in Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wells and Whitley counties in Indiana and Branch and Hillsdale counties in Michigan.
Big Brothers Big Sister’s mission is to help children reach their potential through professionally supported one to one relationships with measureable impact.
Learn how you can positively impact a child’s life, donate or volunteer at www.BBBSNEI.org.
