June 29, 2021
For Immediate Release
$150,000 OTF Grant Helps Scientists in School Invent New Program Delivery Methods
Pickering, ON – On Friday, Scientists in School held a virtual event to celebrate the impact of a $150,000 Resilient Communities Fund grant it received from Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) late last year. The Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy, MPP and Charles Tobias, an OTF volunteer, congratulated the group and heard more from the charity about its pivot to developing and launching virtual science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs for elementary school-aged children in schools and community settings across Ontario.
QUOTES
“Organizations like Scientists in School enrich the lives of students in Pickering-Uxbridge and across Durham Region, while playing an important role in building a strong and prosperous Ontario economy,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, MPP for Pickering-Uxbridge. “With the Resilient Communities Fund Grant, Scientists in School can rebuild and recover from impacts of COVID-19 by purchasing the tools and resources they need to deliver their programs to our residents.”
“A prosperous and innovative Ontario is one where every voice is represented in our workforce, communities, research and scientific discoveries. In order to achieve this vision, we all must work to inspire confidence and heighten 21st Century skills in our youngest citizens, regardless of their socioeconomic status or geographic location. Scientists in School thanks OTF for helping our charity to ignite scientific curiosity in over 160,000 young Ontarians during a year where engaging investigative learning is more impactful than ever.” – Cindy Adams, Executive Director, Scientists in School
QUICK FACTS
• Creating a virtual classroom and community setting workshop stream for children ages three to 14 allowed Scientists in School to continue to bring high-quality, hands-on STEM enrichment during a time of great uncertainty and educational upheaval to young scientists across the province.
• Fifty free virtual classroom and community workshops were provided to Northern Ontario communities, providing an opportunity for equal participation across the province, regardless of where children live.
• Scientists in School is a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education charity that typically inspires over 700,000 children in Kindergarten to Grade 8 in-person across the country each year through hands-on STEM investigations. This year, we were proud to provide joy and wonder for over 200,000 young scientists through our virtual workshop program, launched in response to COVID-19. 160,000 of these children were in Ontario.
• Since 1989, Scientists in School has engaged over 10 million children and youth.
• The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations. OTF awarded $115 million to 644 projects last year to build healthy and vibrant communities in Ontario.
Media Contact:
Amy Schindler, Director, Fund Development and Communications
416-554-2975
amy.schindler@scientistsinschool.ca
