Finalists announced for the first-ever Love on Mini-Grants for STEM outreach
From providing laptops to girls in rural Kenya to outfitting a computer lab for children with disabilities in Germany, the Lenovo Foundation is helping bring technology to everyone.
On October 22, the Foundation launched its first ever grant round, coinciding with the Foundation’s global launch as Lenovo’s charitable and philanthropic arm. Organizations around the world were invited to share project proposals for up to $10,000 USD to empower diverse and minority populations with access to technology and STEM education.
A total of $150,000 was announced to be given with the grant round. Lenovo shares its own strengths of diversity and innovation with the community through its corporate philanthropy strategy of empowering diverse and minority populations with access to technology and STEM education.
All proposals were reviewed by an evaluation committee of over 40 Lenovo employees from around the world. “It was so inspiring to read about the different approaches and solutions for empowering minorities in STEM—not just from organizations near our RTP headquarters, but from around the world,” said Sydni Collins, Lenovo Foundation Program Manager.
Today, Lenovo Foundation and the Lenovo Philanthropy board are pleased to present sixteen Love on Mini Grant finalists. In addition to providing up to $10,000 in funds or Lenovo product that further the organization’s mission, Lenovo Foundation looks forward to telling the stories of each organization, highlighting how they’re empowering diverse populations with technology and access to STEM education through bi-monthly profiles.
“We are thrilled to be working with so many great organizations, and grateful for the involvement of every organization who submitted a proposal. This is our first grant round and we’ve already tapped into so much great work being done,” commented Yolanda Conyers, Lenovo Foundation President.
Organizations interested in receiving support from the Lenovo Foundation can visit www.LenovoFoundation.com to view charitable giving guidelines. While the Lenovo Foundation does not typically provide support for unsolicited requests, the Foundation is planning to provide another open grant round in 2019, timing to be announced.
| Finalist | Proposal |
| ASME Location: United States Impact: Nationwide | Program funding and Lenovo Mirage VR Solo headsets will enhance the impact of “See What You Can Be” engineering education, provided with mentorship to over 75 women of color. |
| Bodelschwinghschule Sindelfingen Location: Germany Impact: Sindelfingen and surroundings | Lenovo product will outfit a computer lab to increase access to STEM for children with disabilities near Sindelfingen, Germany. |
| Breakthrough Greater Boston Location: United States Impact: Boston metro area | Lenovo 100e laptops will be provided for the Full STEAM Ahead program, providing access to quality STEM education for 300 Boston area students of color who will be first in their families to attend college. |
| Communities In Schools of Wake County Location: United States Impact: Wake County, North Carolina | Funding support for year-round STEM programs will provide access to STEM education for 200 students grades k-12 from Wake County’s underprivileged communities. |
| East Durham Children’s Initiative Location: United States Impact: Durham, North Carolina | Lenovo 100e laptops will support STEM instruction and coding projects for 40 students ages 8-11 who are from a low-income community in East Durham. |
| Future INDesign Location: United States Impact: Rural Utah | Lenovo Yoga laptops will enhance the coding, design and life skills classes provided to 50-100 high school students in rural Utah. |
| Gifted Abilities Technical Institute Location: United States Impact: Denton, Texas | Funding for program support will provide free computer training and career opportunities for 20 adults with autism. |
| Henry Wanyoike Foundation Location: Kenya Impact: Nairobi | Lenovo tablets and access to wi-fi will provide access to technology and STEM education for 80 children ages 4-10 in the Kanjeru shauri slums of Kenya. |
| Labdoo.org Location: Switzerland Impact: Worldwide | Funding for programs will enable Labdoo.org to have a greater impact by providing access to technology and STEM education in 120 countries around the world for children 4-10 years old. |
| Live globally Location: United States Impact: Kenya | Lenovo product will outfit a computer lab for community use and access to technology in Kenya. |
| Project SYNCERE Location: United States Impact: Chicago’s South and West Sides | Funding will support the ENpowered program, which provides engineering curriculum to 400 students from Chicago’s under resourced neighborhoods. |
| Shiksha Prayas Inc. Location: India Impact: Haryana State | Lenovo computers will provide free computer education for 60 students in the Haryana State of India |
| Shin Shin Educational Foundation Location: United States/China Impact: Rural China | Funding will provide support for innovative STEM teaching methods and program implementation across rural China. |
| Sweet Pea Youth Development Location: South Africa Impact: Cape Town and Burgersdorp | Funding will provide access to “Young Engineers” after school STEM program to be accessed in community centres. Equipment will support training and internet access for computer programming. |
| Techbridge Girls Location: United States Impact: Washington, D.C. metro area | Funding for programming support will ensure that Techbridge Girls can continue to offer free STEM programs for 225 girls from low-income communities in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. |
| WISER International Location: Kenya Impact: Rural Kenya | Funding will provide hands-on STEM opportunities and skills development for 240 women and girls in rural Kenya. |