Beaverton Education Foundation Awarded Spirit Mountain Community Fund Challenge Grant

June 23, 2009

For more information contact:
Kristine Baggett, Executive Director 503-927-9752
Susan Bailey, Office Manager 503-643-7453

The Beaverton Education Foundation (BEF), a public non-profit corporation that raises monies for public schools in Beaverton, was awarded a $20,000 Spirit Mountain Community Fund Challenge Grant for the BEF Building STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) 4 All project. The Beaverton Education Foundation must raise an additional $20,000 for this project to meet the Spirit Mountain challenge.

BEF’s Building STEAM 4 All initiative is designed to encourage students to become familiar with and pursue science studies through a wide variety of experiences in the classroom and outside of the traditional school day. The Building STEAM 4 All project will include programming at Beaverton’s larger science-intensive option high school – Health Sciences High School, support after-school and summer programs that are science, technology, engineering, and/or mathematics intensive at all grade levels, and for science and technology classroom projects in Beaverton schools serving kindergarten through high school students.

Building STEAM 4 All programs will connect students with, not only relevant studies in the sciences, but also with partners in the business and higher education communities, building sustainable funding and collaborative relationships with the local business and education partners. While all schools and grades will be eligible to participate, special consideration will be given to activities that recruit and retain females, English Language Learners, students of color and students living in poverty. These groups are underrepresented in STEAM courses at the high school and college level, and in science careers within the local, regional and national workforce.

The Beaverton Education Foundation is grateful for the support of the Spirit Mountain Community Fund, and welcomes donations from individuals, and businesses in support of this project, assisting the BEF in meeting the Spirit Mountain challenge. Spirit Mountain Community Fund is the philanthropic arm of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. Each year the Fund invests nearly $4 million in community service agencies in an 11 county region. To date the Fund has invested more than $45 million. “Our Tribe and trustees are passionate about education and its long-term benefits to communities and families. This project offers creative supports in critical education areas that many youth struggle in. We are excited to hear about the Beaverton Education Foundation meeting the match to provide STEAM programs,” said Director Shelly Hanson.

Please visit www.beavertonEDfoundation.org for more information about BEF funded programs.