WALTHAM, Mass., Sept. 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Boys &
Girls Clubs of America is opening four new STEM Centers of
Innovation, in partnership with Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN). This
marks 14 centers established to keep
military youth on the path to great futures with science,
technology, engineering, and math learning.
The new centers are:
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson,
Arizona, serving families of the Davis-Monthan Air Force
Base
- Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii, Ewa Beach,
Hawaii, serving families of US Army Garrison Hawaii, Joint
Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Marine Corps Base Hawaii
- Hill Air Force Base Youth Program, Utah
- Kirtland Air Force Base Youth
Program, New Mexico
"Military families make tremendous sacrifices for our country,
but those sacrifices should never include their children missing
opportunities to explore the endless possibilities available to
them," said Jim Clark, president and
CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "We're proud to offer a
safe, familiar space for military youth across the country and
abroad, and with these four new STEM Centers of Innovation from
Raytheon, we'll be able to continue to build even more confidence
and curiosity among these amazing kids to forge passions in STEM
that will positively impact their future."
The STEM Centers of Innovation are funded through Raytheon's
$5 million, multi-year commitment to
BGCA, part of the company's $10
million pledge to support military families and
veterans.
In 2016, thousands of military-connected teens engaged with
interactive modules and hands-on STEM activities at 10 existing
STEM Centers of Innovation across the
United States and abroad. Each location has 3-D printers,
robotics workshops and high-definition video production and
conferencing equipment.
These activities use real-world applications to help youth
develop STEM skills and critical thinking outside of the classroom,
in an effort to help develop the next generation workforce. Over
the last decade, STEM-related jobs have grown at three times the
rate of other jobs, according to the U.S. Department of
Commerce.
"Through these Centers of Innovation, we want military children
to be able to experience science, technology, engineering and
mathematics in a supportive, hands-on environment," said Raytheon
Chairman and CEO Thomas A. Kennedy.
"It is our hope that the centers will inspire them to pursue
rewarding careers and become the next generation of engineers and
scientists our nation needs to continue its technology and
innovation leadership."
The four new centers join a network of nine STEM Centers of
Innovation located in the United
States and one abroad:
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San
Diego, serving families of Naval Base Point Loma, and Naval
Base San Diego
- Boys & Girls Clubs of the Pikes Peak Region, Colorado Springs, Colorado, serving families
of Peterson Air Force Base,
Widefield School District and U.S. Air Force Academy Youth
Program
- Eglin Air Force Base Youth Program, Florida
- Boys & Girls Clubs of San
Antonio, serving families of Joint Base San Antonio (Fort
Sam Houston, Lackland Air Force Base, and Randolph Air Force Base)
- Joint Base Andrews Youth Program, Maryland
- Ramstein Air Base Youth Programs, Ramstein, Germany
- Boys & Girls Clubs of South County, Chula Vista, California, serving families of
Naval Outlying Landing Field Imperial Beach
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Central
Texas, Killeen, Texas,
serving families of Fort Hood
- Boys & Girls Clubs of North
Alabama, serving the families of Redstone Arsenal
- Harford County Boys & Girls Clubs, Aberdeen, Maryland, serving the families of
the Aberdeen Proving Ground
About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than 150 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America
(GreatFutures.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve
great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today,
4,300 Clubs serve four million young people annually through Club
membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities,
towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country,
and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on
U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place,
caring adult mentors, fun, friendship, and high-impact youth
development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school
hours. Priority programs emphasize academic success, good character
and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of
alumni, 54 percent said the Club saved their lives. National
headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at
http://www.bgca.org/facebook and http://bgca.org/twitter.
About Raytheon
Raytheon Company, with 2016 sales of $24 billion and
63,000 employees, is a technology and innovation leader
specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity
solutions. With a history of innovation spanning 95 years, Raytheon
provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration,
C5ITM products and services, sensing, effects, and
mission support for customers in more than 80
countries. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham,
Massachusetts. Follow us
on Twitter.
Media Contacts:
Brandie Gerrish
+1.781.522.5193
globalpr@raytheon.com
Sara Leutzinger
+1.404.487.5624
sleutzinger@bgca.org
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SOURCE Raytheon Company