This is a press release from the MdBio Foundation
BALTIMORE – (BUSINESS WIRE) | A $25,000 contribution from AT&T will help the MdBio Foundation boost science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education in Maryland. The contribution supports MdBio programs for underserved high school and rising middle school students, including the MdBioLab, a mobile laboratory that travels across the state giving students hands-on STEM experiences.
Brian Gaines, CEO of the MdBio Foundation, made the announcement during today’s Advancing Tomorrow’s Leaders in STEM (ATLAS) event at the University of Maryland BioPark in Baltimore. ATLAS is a college and career readiness symposium that offers students underrepresented in STEM an opportunity to connect with business leaders, colleges, government agencies and potential employers.
MdBioLab is designed to increase student interest in science and make them aware of career opportunities in the biosciences field. Each week during the school year, MdBioLab visits high schools across Maryland and enables students to explore the life sciences through captivating, hands-on experiments ranging from crime scene forensics to the diagnosis of diseases. Since its launch in 2003, MdBioLab has served more than 130,000 students and 2,000 teachers across all of Maryland’s school districts.
“We are thrilled to have the continued support of AT&T and appreciate the company’s dedication to STEM education,” said MdBio’s Gaines. “AT&T’s investment in Maryland – along with its strong commitment to reach underserved students by championing high-quality STEM education experiences – is valuable in enabling the MdBio Foundation to have a true impact on the lives of thousands of students.”
LaTara Harris, AT&T’s regional director for External Affairs, was on hand for the announcement today at the UM BioPark.
“It’s very important for students across Maryland to have strong STEM skills. Employers, like AT&T and many others, need candidates with these skills. The work of the MdBio Foundation, including the mobile lab visits across the state, help students gain the skills and expertise they will need for success. We’re excited to support their work again this year,” said Harris.
For more information about MdBioLab, including school visits planned for the 2016-17 school year, visit www.mdbiofoundation.org.
About Philanthropy & Social Innovation at AT&T
AT&T is committed to advancing education, strengthening communities and improving lives. Through its community initiatives, AT&T has a long history of investing in projects that create learning opportunities; promote academic and economic achievement; or address community needs. AT&T Aspire is AT&T’s signature philanthropic initiative that drives innovation in education by bringing diverse resources to bear on the issue including funding, technology, employee volunteerism, and mentoring. Through Aspire, we’ve passed the $250 million mark on our plan to invest $350 million in education from 2008-2017.
About MdBio Foundation
MdBio Foundation is a charitable non-profit organization that provides innovative, effective, and experiential STEM education opportunities. The Foundation’s interdisciplinary approach uses science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to explore real-world, problem-centric curriculum that bridges school, community, health, and business. MdBio Foundation’s flagship education program MdBioLab, a mobile laboratory for high schools, has provided quality educational experiences to more than 130,000 students throughout the state of Maryland since its launch in 2003. The Foundation also operates other celebrated STEM education programs such as the Young Science Explorers Program for middle school students, the Maryland BioGENEius Award, and Advancing Tomorrow’s Leaders in STEM (ATLAS) college and career symposia. For more information, visit www.mdbiofoundation.org.