Russell Williams’ Post

It’s Giving Tuesday—and Grand Rapids’ first-ever GR Giving Day! Today, STEM Greenhouse is joining 49 other nonprofits in a community-wide effort to raise $250,000 to support life-changing work across Grand Rapids. With your help, we can ensure every student has the opportunity to excel in STEM and build a brighter future. Here’s how it works: To receive a share of the GR Giving Day collective funds, STEM Greenhouse just needs to raise something toward our $5,000 goal. Whether it’s $10, $50, or $500, every donation helps us qualify and directly supports our mission to close equity gaps in education. At STEM Greenhouse, we do more than teach STEM skills—we build confidence, provide mentorship, and help students see themselves as scientists, engineers, and innovators. For many of our students, this is the first time they’ve met professionals who look like them or imagined they could truly belong in these fields. These moments change lives. Your gift today helps make those moments possible. Here’s why your support is so important: - Every dollar raised qualifies STEM Greenhouse for a share of the collective funds, amplifying the impact of your donation. - Your gift funds programs that prepare students for STEM careers through hands-on learning and mentorship with diverse professionals. - You’re contributing to a community-wide effort that supports dozens of local nonprofits doing critical work in Grand Rapids. No matter the size, your donation today makes a difference. Together, we can show what’s possible when we invest in equity, education, and opportunity for all students. Click here to donate now: https://lnkd.in/ennKPcyg This Giving Tuesday, let’s come together to create opportunities that last a lifetime. Thank you for being part of this movement.

This Giving Tuesday, we're reminded that making a difference in our community is a process. It takes people, teams, and companies dedicated to BECOMING the change and putting in the time, effort, and resources to reflect that. If you're ready to do more than check a box, here's how you can change the face of STEM: -Share SD2: If you know a high school or college student, share our opportunities with them. We need to reach students at all stages of the talent pipeline, and that starts with people in their communities- you. -Become a Mentor: One-on-one, consistent support over time directly ties into student success; that's where our mentors come in. If you're a STEM professional in the San Diego area and ready to build authentic relationships, learn how to become a mentor at sd2.org/become-a-mentor/ -Donate: Whether you give a one-time donation or set up recurring giving, know that your money directly invests in tomorrow's STEM leaders. Our students don't pay a penny to join our Fellows, Scholars, or Interns programs, so financial capital from our community allows us to support them and provide resources to them and their families so they can thrive. -Become a Corporate Partner: Partnerships with local STEM-driven companies drive diversity through partnerships, mentorship, and financial support for high school and college students, as well as educators. If your company wants to invest in a future where STEM represents everyone, learn how your financial support and human capital can make a difference: https://lnkd.in/gMuvjAwa Donate directly to SD2: sd2.org/donate/ Thank you for your inspiring words, Jennifer Hairston! #GivingTuesday #NonProfit #DiversityinSTEM

Empower kids to DREAM and STEAM big! HEY, YOU! YES, YOU! It’s #GivingTuesday, and we’re here to make some NOISE for our amazing kids at @TheFishingSchool! Sure, there are a lot of great organizations asking for your support today, but let’s be real: KIDS ARE THE LOUDEST. (Don’t believe us? Try sitting next to them during snack time.  ) But here’s the quiet part we don’t want to whisper:  Less than 5% of STEM programs reach young students in high-poverty schools in DC.  That’s not OK.  And we’re changing it. With your help, @TheFishingSchool is empowering under-resourced kids to dream big—STEM big—so they can grow into leaders, innovators, and community builders.  Our goal: $20,000 by December 31. That’s not just a number. It’s more STEM kits, more science experiments, and more chances for these amazing kids to shape the future they deserve. So let’s raise the roof, raise some funds, and raise up these young voices that already know how to be loud. Donate now and be part of the ripple effect: visit https://lnkd.in/etPKMDss #GivingTuesday #TheFishingSchool #FishingForFutures #STEMpowerment #afterschoollearning #nextgeneration

Can you help keep the wonder alive? Before I started working for Engineering New Zealand I didn’t really appreciate or understand the work of engineers and the essential role they play in our daily lives. So maybe you don’t either? Stop for a minute and think about your interactions today - your commute, your office, your house, your technology, yours or your loved one’s medical care, your hobbies…the list goes on. None of this would exist without engineering. Engineering truly is everywhere, and we all need engineers. So you’ll no doubt understand how important it is to keep the pipeline of engineers strong. At Engineering New Zealand Te Ao Rangahau we run a successful free STEM programme at primary schools, inspiring kids into STEM education. And this programme, the Wonder Project, really works! And it also gets more girls and Māori and Pacific Peoples excited about STEM, yay 🙌 But unfortunately, we're short of funding for 2025 to continue to deliver this impactful programme to schools in Aoteraoa 💔😔 We’ve had some incredible organisations step up to support our mission since we lost our government funding in 2023. But we still need to raise $100,000+ to keep the wonder alive next year. Think you might be able to help? Here’s a few ideas how: 💙 Donate: Make a personal or organisational donation to our fundraising campaign. Every dollar counts.  Donate now  >> https://lnkd.in/gWPEdmwF 💙 Partner: Packages start at just $5k and go a long way to supporting Kiwi kids with STEM. View partnership options  >> https://lnkd.in/gRdGvq7h 💙 Share: Times are tough for everyone, so if financial support isn’t for you, help us spread the word as far and wide as you can.  Download shareable assets  >> https://lnkd.in/ggGUNQYD Any support you can provide, big or small is really appreciated. Let’s keep the wonder alive, together.

Gender Gap in STEM 👩💻 Only 28% of the STEM workforce is women. Without mentorship and early exposure, many girls never see STEM careers as an option. At Elevated Generation Debutante Club, we aim to change this by hosting STEM workshops with industry professionals, providing hands-on experiences, and offering scholarships to pursue these fields. 🎯 How you can help: - Volunteer as a STEM mentor or guest speaker. - Donate to fund supplies for our hands-on STEM workshops. 💡 Impact: Your contribution can inspire a future engineer, scientist, or coder, giving girls the confidence to dream bigger.

Calling all passionate educators and future-focused professionals! Little Scientists is thrilled to announce the launch of a crowdfunding campaign to purchase the new LEGO Education sets to be used in our project for public schools. Our goal? Offer STEM education to all the children, regardless of background. Why is this important? • Equity in Education: We believe a strong STEM foundation is crucial for future success. Your contribution ensures all children have access to these valuable learning opportunities. • Building the Next Generation: By supporting STEM education, we're investing in a future filled with innovation and creative problem solvers. How You Can Help: •Donate: Every contribution, big or small, gets us closer to our goal! •Spread the Word: Share our campaign with your network on LinkedIn and other platforms. Let's get everyone involved!

The Wakaboomee Program’s mission is our joy: Providing STEAM (STEM + Art), Wellness (Mindfulness & Sustainability), and Entrepreneurship Sessions to ALL K-12 students! This concoction of curricula boosts critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and innovation. Our jovial mascot, Wakaboomee has discovered that this type of sustainable education brings people from all walks of life together, fostering collaboration and understanding that make our communities thrive! That’s why we need your help to continue this important work. Your donations sustain our 501(c)3 - they allow us to provide FREE Sessions like the one in this video clip - Teen Robotics, led by John Patterson where brilliant teens have united from diverse backgrounds to build a VEX V5 Workcell gifted to us from Eaton. It’s during these sessions where Cameron, Knashya, Eva Barkalova, Kellan, Arayah & others have brought “Squdl” to life! Did you see Squdl move in the video? We’re working on coding Squdl to do impressive things on Saturday, 7/20 (details coming soon). It’s during these sessions that John Patterson shows us real video of how he & Professor He (Helen) Huang are creating AMAZING robotic prosthetics giving amputees a better quality of life! It’s during these sessions that our teens are seeing firsthand how robotics can lead to careers in technology and biomedical engineering that can make our world better. We understand not everyone can give large donations to keep these Sessions FREE for our communities, but even $25 can make such a big difference. Support our K-12 students. This is a movement, and with your help, we are changing the world! Would you like to donate? Click Here: https://lnkd.in/eJGaKzu2 #sustainsbleFUTURES #liveconectedlivewell #wakaboomee

Fundraisers, it's time to call the Service-Learning office. From the back of the library, what I'm reading as a #Philanthropy PhD student. Research by 👑Lindsey McDougle, PhD, and HUAFANG LI👑 found that service-learning experiences (SLEs) in higher education significantly influence the formation of students' prosocial identities (= helps make them better people), with the type and form of service playing crucial roles in this process. (volunteering or charitable giving). Pre-existing prosocial identities determine how students engage with SLEs and the extent to which these identities are reinforced or newly adopted. Were the students volunteering and engaging in charitable giving in High School? The model suggests that aligning service-learning activities with students' prior identities and providing meaningful feedback can enhance long-term prosocial engagement ( = more likely to give and engage as an alumnus) 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠: By highlighting the positive outcomes of service-learning programs, such as increased student engagement and community impact, fundraisers can create compelling narratives and testimonials to attract and retain donors. I once closed a gift from a gentleman who volunteered with his local Habitat for Humanity International Board to support his collegiate chapter of Habitat. What great alignment! Aligning donor interests with specific SLE initiatives can foster deeper connections and long-term support for these transformative educational experiences. 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐬: 🟠 How can we identify and engage donors passionate about education, civic engagement, and community service and introduce our SL programs? 🟠 What stories and testimonials from students and community partners can we share to demonstrate the impact of service learning? Shout out to my amazing service-learning professor at Vanderbilt Peabody College, Dr. @Janet Eyler, and Tim Caboni for throwing us in the deep end with nonprofit clients as service-learning opportunities. McDougle, L. M., & Li, H. (2023). Service-Learning in Higher Education and Prosocial Identity Formation. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 52(3), 611-630. #BackoftheLibrary #Research #Philanthropy #ServiceLearning #HigherEducation #IdentityFormation #ARNOVA #Fundraising

Today is #NationalSTEMDay, an annual event that raises awareness about the importance of STEM education and careers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in STEM occupations is projected to grow at twice the rate (10.8%) of overall employment (5.3%) through 2031. The nonprofit Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) has been a leader in science, technology, engineering, and math for more than 40 years. CEE’s four impactful programs encourage leadership and innovation among top STEM students, enhance STEM teacher professional development, and expand the STEM career pipeline to underserved rural and urban students. The Center’s 3,500 alumni represent 50 U.S. states and 62 countries, and are next-gen leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs addressing worldwide challenges in health, technology, energy, environment, and security. Hundreds of the Center’s alumni serve as professors and researchers at top universities. More than 250 alums have founded companies or serve as C-suite business executives. And more than 10 percent of CEE alumni are doctors or M.D./Ph.D. physician-researchers at leading academic medical centers. Most importantly, the Center remains the only U.S. nonprofit organization to provide all its vital STEM education programs free of cost to participants. CEE believes the tremendous potential for future STEM leadership should never be limited by socio-economic status. Please consider a gift to advance the Center’s vital STEM education mission. Our future will be better for it. The CEE Team PS - You can help support them and innovation in STEM by making a charitable gift online to CEE at https://www.cee.org/donate