| CHARITY SPOTLIGHT
Building to a Better future Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington partners with Pepco to create the STEM Club B Y D AV I D V E L A Z Q U E Z
pproximately one out of every fundraiser of the year - the Tim Russert four school-age children in the Congressional Dinner. The event is Washington, D.C. metropolitan area is named in honor of a true advocate of without adult supervision after school the Clubs, Tim Russert, whose efforts between 3:00pm and 7:00pm; 20 percent helped to raise awareness and support of all crimes committed by juveniles for the youth of our nation, particulary occur during that time; more than 1,500 her in the nation’s capital. children in the Washington area are As the dinner chairman, I’m helping homeless, and many more are without to raise critical funding that enables access to a proper meal. The Boys & BGCGW to offer effective after school Girls Clubs of Greater Washington is programming and a safe haven to over addressing these critical issues every day. 1,200 children and youth each day In an effort to help fix one of during the school year at 12 sites across the greatest disparities in education, the District, Northern Virginia, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Maryland. Washington decided several years ago to The Congressional Dinner, which Pepco STEM Club at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington focus on STEAM (Science, Technology, began in 1986, pays tribute to local and Engineering, the Arts, and Math).The BGCGW the Town Hall Education Arts Recreation national leaders who have made extraordinary STEAM curriculum was created to de-bunk the Campus (THEARC) as they transformed it contributions to BGCGW. But most perception that STEM is “too hard” by making into a laboratory that evening. The enthusiasm importantly, it ensures the kids who need the learning both fun and relevant. and comments from the kids were inspirational. Boys & Girls Clubs have a better chance for a Pepco is proud to have joined forces with Many said they were surprised that they had so better future. Discovery Education to create the Pepco STEM much fun learning on a Friday night. David Velazquez is executive vice president of Club provided only in Boys & Girls Clubs.The The partnership between Pepco and the Boys power delivery for Pepco Holdings, Inc. students access the digital curriculum on energy & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington has been and urban infrastructure via pepcostemclub.com. going on for nearly 30 years. We have donated The learning activities and digital resources well over half a million dollars in the past 10 within the online curriculum allow students years alone to assist Boys & Girls Clubs with to investigate how energy works and discover their nationally recognized programs that help how small bursts of creativity can unlock huge at-risk youth overcome their daily challenges, potential for the future. They also get to explore and grow to be the next generation of leaders engineering principles and design challenges in our Washington metro communities. that surround us in everyday life which helps Our alliance with the Boys & Girls Clubs prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow. has always been more than just dollars donated, Just this past January, the Pepco STEM Club it’s also about the time and commitment held its inaugural program for over 100 middle provided by our employees. It’s about activities school students from the 12 Boys & Girls Clubs like volunteering to help with homework and of Greater Washington. Held at the FBR painting the walls of a clubhouse so the kids Branch in Southeast Washington, the student have a clean environment to study and play after teams competed in creating “Rube Goldberg” school. It’s about being in the community and devices that transfer energy from one object to having a positive impact. another. I myself had a chance to interact with On May 13, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dave Velazquez the students as a judge. They filled the gym of Greater Washington will hold their biggest
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