(SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA, 05/11/2013) – Youth at the Boys & Girls Clubs of North San Mateo County will have greater access to fun and innovative technology programs thanks to the Club Tech Impact Grants provided by Comcast and Boys & Girls Clubs of America. The $5,000 grant allowed the Boys & Girls Clubs of North San Mateo County to take its technology programming to the next level with new activities and programs aimed to enhance technology skills among youth.
Thanks to this Club Tech Impact Grant, we were able to provide more activities and learning experiences to the members who attend our programs. During the program year members were able to participate in various things including, but not limited to, Lego Machines, graphic design, DJ workshops, college tours and guest speakers, home design, video production, blog design, music production and more. We were also able to go beyond our walls and work with students offsite to give members and students an opportunity to be the creators of their own media and learn about colleges where they could further pursue digital arts and technical educations and move on to a career.
Two thirds of our members demonstrated an increase in knowledge in identifying STEM and Digital Arts related careers through guest speakers, guest instructors, field trips, hands on learning and career research projects. All of our members who participate in our programs and activities were able to put their hands on the equipment and software they use to produce and create. Our program is 100% hands on. Approximately 45% of our members are female and are very active in the overall Club Tech / Computer Clubhouse program and we have special technology programs for girls such as Design IT and Girls Day.
Our Intel Computer Clubhouse (ICC) program in South San Francisco and the Club Tech Impact Grant enable us to provide access to technology for children and youth who wouldn’t have it otherwise; increase Club members’ comfort level with technology and thus access to online educational tools; provide opportunities for artistic expression and development in music, graphics, film and other media; develop teamwork skills (collaborative projects); improve writing skills, including stories and poetry; and increase knowledge of and access to high tech career options.
“We are thrilled to receive this grant to build on the great things our Club is doing with technology and create additional opportunities for our youth to engage in fun and exciting technology activities,” said Sharon Dolan, Executive Director. “With additional access to technology programs, our young people are provided with the knowledge and tools to compete in a technology-driven world.”
Seventeen Boys & Girls Clubs across the country, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of North San Mateo County, received the $5,000 grants that will be matched by an additional $2,500 from local donors. Comcast also provided 20 Clubs with Club Tech Impact Grants last spring. The grants allow Clubs to purchase additional equipment, software or fulfill a fun, innovative project idea related to program areas like digital arts, robotics or career development. Selected Clubs were accepted through an application process and required to have some level of technology programming already in place.
“The Club Tech program plays a vital role in providing computer training in those communities that need it most,” said Charisse R. Lillie, Vice President of Community Investment at Comcast and President of the Comcast Foundation. “Comcast is thrilled to support Boys & Girls Clubs as we focus on expanding digital literacy across the country.”
Currently, nearly one million youth and teens participate in Club Tech every year at more than 3,600 Boys & Girls Clubs around the world. Club Tech provides youth and staff with basic and advanced tech skills needed to succeed in a technology-driven world.
For more information on Club Tech and to view success stories please visit www.bgca.org/clubtech
Contact: Sharon Dolan, Boys & Girls Clubs of North San Mateo County, 650-589-7090 x14, sdolan@theclubs.org
Boys & Girls Clubs of North San Mateo County
201 West Orange Avenue
South San Francisco, CA 94080
T: (650) 589-7090
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