Thanks to a $45,000 grant from Motorola Solutions Foundation, Destination Imagination will enhance STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) and 21st-century skills initiatives for students who reside in underserved communities in the U.S.
Motorola Solutions Foundation awards grants each year to organizations, such as Destination Imagination, which support and advance public safety programs and technology and engineering education initiatives.
“Now more than ever, it is critically important for organizations to help close the STEM gap by providing underrepresented communities with greater access to hands-on STEM projects,” said Michele Tuck-Ponder, Executive Director of Destination Imagination, Inc. “We are honored to continue working with Motorola Solutions Foundation on this significant mission, and through this generous grant, we will have the opportunity to empower hundreds of students from diverse backgrounds.”
This year, Motorola Solutions Foundation grants will support programs that help more than two million students, teachers, first responders and community members around the globe. There is a specific focus on providing grants to programs that impact underrepresented populations, including females, minorities, people with disabilities, veterans and others.
“We are very pleased to support the work of Destination Imagination,” said Monica Mueller, executive director of the Motorola Solutions Foundation. “We believe in organizations that foster innovation and drive change, and we’re proud to be part of the positive impact they are making in the community.”
During the 2018-19 season, Destination Imagination, Inc.’s Motorola Solutions Foundation grant allowed Affiliates in Alabama, Colorado, California, Georgia, Maryland, Illinois and Washington to provide Challenge materials, teacher stipends and transportation grants to a total of 46 teams. Teams were formed in Title I schools and organizations such as Boys and Girls Clubs and The YMCA of Metro Chicago. Four of the Motorola-sponsored teams qualified for Global Finals 2019, including Team 2020 from Redmond, Washington. Team 2020, a group of first-generation Americans who planned to be the very first members of their families to attend college, participated in the Service Learning Challenge. As part of their Challenge, they created a website to help other first-generation students in Washington State navigate the college admissions process.
Check out the video below to hear from two of our Motorola-sponsored teams on their Destination Imagination and Global Finals experience.
To view the official press release, click here.
Are you involved with a Title I school or youth/community organization and are interested in starting a Destination Imagination team?
Funding is currently available to cover the costs associated with running the Destination Imagination Challenge Experience for middle and high school teams in certain communities throughout the U.S. Click here to view the list of approved counties.
Title I schools and youth/community organizations that serve a similar population are invited to apply for funding through our Motorola Solutions Foundation Grant.
For more information, download and read our 2019-20 Motorola Grant Overview. For questions, please contact Adam Law at [email protected].
