Four Nonprofits Awarded 2020 Micron Opportunity Fund Grants

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia, the leader in local philanthropy in the region, today announced the recipients of the 2020 Micron Opportunity Fund Grant. Urban Alliance, Rosie Riveters, Music for Life, and BELONG! Vienna are the 2019 - 2020 grantees. The funds, awarded in three $5,000 grants and one $4,000 grant will support academic programs that provide education, skills acquisition, and mentoring for underrepresented and under-funded student populations in STEM.

“Building a diverse, talented STEM workforce starts early, by ensuring that all young people have access and exposure to the skills, experience, and networks necessary for industry success,” said Christine McCurdy, Executive Director of Urban Alliance Northern Virginia.

STEM projects supported by the grants include programs that engage and inspire 28 girls enrolled in Fairfax County Neighborhood & Community Services summer RECQuest programs.

“We want to teach girls to delete the words ‘I can’t’ from their vocabulary and inspire them to always be confident enough to try,” said Brittany Greer, Executive Director and founder of Rosie Riveters. “We’re so thankful to Micron for supporting our work to engage and inspire girls in STEM.”

“With the support of the Community Foundation of Northern Virginia, Micron Opportunity Fund Grant, Belong! will continue to provide after-school and summer STEM curriculum focused enrichment programs for youth, grades K-6th,” said Letycia Pastrana, Executive Director of BELONG! Vienna. “Students will improve their academic performance and bridge the technology gap that often exists in under-served communities.”

The goal of the Micron Opportunity Fund is to strengthen STEM learning through efforts to build knowledge, systems, and capacity in Northern Virginia by ensuring underserved students have access to high-quality STEM learning experiences.

“This grant to provide music education opportunities to low-income students in our STEAM Guitar Program; they’ll learn the science behind a guitar, build their own instrument and learn to play it. It is a proven means to help mitigate barriers preventing them from attaining the competencies and experiences necessary to become self-sufficient adults,” said Skip Chaples, Music for Life President.

“We have long supported educational activities in our region, particularly those that encourage students to pursue careers in the critical fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics," said Sari Raskin, Vice President of Grants and Community Leadership at Community Foundation for Northern Virginia. "We are pleased to fund these STEM projects this year to support our students, schools, and educators as they work to help build a strong workforce for the future."

To learn more about the Micron Opportunity Fund please visit www.cfnova.org/micron.