The Pinkerton Foundation Supports the Expansion of Reach the World’s STEM Afterschool Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 The Pinkerton Foundation Supports the Expansion of Reach the World’s STEM-Through-a-Global-Lens Afterschool Program

 Funding will support the expansion of RTW’s “GeoTech” Club afterschool model program to ten new sites in 2013-2014.

 

NEW YORK, May 16, 2013 –Reach the World, the New York City-based organization dedicated to promoting global literacy for disadvantaged youth, has received funding from the Pinkerton Foundation to expand its STEM afterschool model program, dubbed the “GeoTech Club”, to ten additional sites in 2013-2014.

Reach the World’s GeoTech Club model program grew out of a three-year collaboration with the HP Catalyst Initiative  at pilot site PS/MS 218 in the Bronx, NY. This successful model for STEM in afterschool combines global digital mentoring from near-age mentors with visits from local experts and hands-on STEM projects. It takes the pressure off afterschool educators to be STEM experts, while ensuring that disadvantaged youth gain access to STEM mentors and career awareness.

Reach the World will partner with YMCA, BELL and the New York Hall of Science during this project.  Together with its partners, RTW’s goal is to motivate student interest in STEM and help create a pipeline for underrepresented students leading from middle school to STEM careers.

“The GeoTech Clubs offer disadvantaged young people the opportunity to go on virtual journeys with a STEM mentor and participate in hands-on activities that create connections between their school work and STEM careers,” said Rick Smith, President of The Pinkerton Foundation. “Thanks to organizations like Reach the World, more young people are being exposed to the wonders and excitement of science and technology.”

 

About Reach the World

Reach the World’s mission is to build a pipeline of globally-competent students and educators who will succeed in and steward the 21st century global community. RTW currently provides global mentoring programs for elementary and middle school students. In 2013, RTW plans to add high school programming, creating an arc of globally-themed mentoring that will reach students throughout their school careers.

Reach the World’s programs match groups of disadvantaged youth with global mentors for a semester. Most of RTW’s global mentors are Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholars, a competitive U.S. State Department program that provides college students with need-based scholarships to study abroad, or Fulbright Scholars. Through a highly structured, standards-based program of web-based journalism, videoconferencing and collaborative project-making,RTW students go on virtual journeys with their global mentors.  In the process, student expand their aspirations, career awareness and worldview.

Reach the World also aims to redesign geography education for the 21st Century through its GeoGames curriculum.  GeoGames is a family of geography learning games originally funded by the National Geographic Society Education Foundation and based on research by Dr. Susan Lowes at Teachers College, Columbia University.

Reach the World was founded in New York City in 1998. All of RTW’s programming is partially fee­ based; revenue from grants and donations makes up the balance. RTW’s mission is to serve Title I school, afterschool and summer school sites, as well as to advocate for global education on a national level.

 

About the Pinkerton Foundation

The Pinkerton Foundation is an independent grantmaking organization established in 1966 by Robert Allan Pinkerton, the Chairman and CEO of Pinkerton’s, Inc., then the nation’s oldest and largest security company. The foundation, which retains no ties to the firm, supports community-based programs for children, youth and families in economically disadvantaged areas in New York City. Although we consider a wide range of youth development initiatives,Pinkerton favors direct-service programs that have one overriding goal: to help young people reach their full potential.  With that in mind, the foundation  looks for groups with capable leadership, high expectations, well-defined goals and active, engaged participants.  Most of the programs we support take place in the after-school, weekend or summer hours and focus on providing opportunities for academic development, career readiness and cultural enrichment.  We also support a number of programs that offer a way forward for young people after an encounter with the criminal justice system or years in foster care.