WALTHAM, Mass., Sept. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Boys &
Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), in partnership with Raytheon Company
(NYSE: RTN), is establishing four new Centers of Innovation at Boys
& Girls Clubs that support military families. Located in
California, Colorado, Florida and Texas the clubs are:
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San
Diego
- Boys & Girls Club of the Pikes Peak Region
- Eglin AFB Youth Center
- Boys & Girls Club of San
Antonio
The centers will provide military youth access to advanced
technologies that stimulate creative approaches to STEM
exploration, including 3-D printers, robotics, high-definition
video production and conferencing equipment. A fully dedicated STEM
expert will offer individual and group support, using real-world
applications to help youth program participants develop their STEM
skills and critical thinking. In the U.S., STEM jobs are expected
to grow nearly twice as fast as those in any other field by 2018,
according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.
The Centers of Innovation are funded through Raytheon's
$5 million, multi-year commitment to
Boys & Girls Clubs of America, part of Raytheon's recent
$10 million pledge to support
military families and veterans.
"Military families go where and when they are needed, managing
through social and academic transitions with each new post. The
Centers of Innovation are designed to ensure that the excitement of
STEM creativity and problem solving provides a constant source of
inspiration," said Thomas A.
Kennedy, Raytheon Chairman and CEO. "Ensuring that our
military children have easy access to a stimulating learning
environment is our collective responsibility."
The life of a military family is unique. On average, military
families move six to nine times before their children graduate high
school – about three times more often than civilian families
(see infographic). Boys & Girls Clubs of
America aim to bring consistency and continuity to their lives; the
club atmosphere provides continuity for military children, whether
living on or off a military base.
"Boys & Girls Clubs in local communities and in
BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on military installations offer a
safe and engaging place for military kids and teens to help address
the unique circumstances that they navigate during formative
years," said Jim Clark, president
and CEO of BGCA. "With Raytheon's support, we'll be able to impact
more of our military heroes' kids to help them achieve great
futures in areas of science, math or wherever their interests take
them."
To date, six Centers of Innovation locations in the United States and one abroad have been
opened:
- Joint Base Andrews Youth Center, Md.
- Ramstein Air Base Youth Programs, Germany
- Boys & Girls Clubs of South County, Chula Vista, Calif., serving the families of
Naval Outlying Landing Field Imperial Beach
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Central
Texas, Killeen, Texas,
serving the families of Fort
Hood
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Huntsville,
Ala., serving the families of Redstone Arsenal
- Harford County Boys & Girls Clubs, Aberdeen, Md., 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,
more than 4,200 Clubs serve nearly 4 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.
BGCA's national headquarters is located in Atlanta, Georgia. Learn more at
http://bgca.org/facebook and http://bgca.org/twitter.
About Raytheon
Raytheon Company, with 2015 sales of $23 billion and
61,000 employees, is a technology and innovation leader
specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity
solutions. With a history of innovation spanning 94 years, Raytheon
provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems
integration, C5I™ 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
@Raytheon.
This document does not contain technology or technical data
controlled under either the U.S. International Traffic in Arms
Regulations or the U.S. Export Administration - E16-C9FP.
Media Contact
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