May 1st '25 RFP Awardees
$10k Awards
Junior Achievement (JA) was awarded $10,000 from the Neilom Foundation to support its technology-driven learning experiences, JA BizTown and JA Finance Park. These programs aim to provide over 32,000 K-12 students with critical financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship education. JA BizTown is a simulated city experience where students take on roles and work together to run businesses, manage finances, and explore various technologies such as iPads, Chromebooks, inkjet printers, 3D printers, digital cameras, Oculus for manufacturing simulations, and an Augmented Reality app. Meanwhile, JA Finance Park offers middle school students an engaging curriculum focused on personal finance and career exploration, where they use individualized iPads to navigate real-world financial decisions, “crunch the numbers” to determine what is sensible and affordable based on their assigned income and lifestyle, and reinforce responsible financial planning.
Tech Fredrick was awarded a $10,000 grant to support its Hackathon with Youth Engagement Track, a high-energy innovation weekend where local developers, designers, and problem-solvers build real-world technology solutions for Frederick-area nonprofit organizations. In 2025, the program will expand to include more youth participants actively working alongside experienced mentors to design, build, and launch technology-driven solutions that nonprofits can immediately use. Unlike most hackathons, this event is rooted in community service, connecting technical skills to real-world impact. Youth will work with professionals to create solutions benefiting local nonprofit organizations, building critical skills like teamwork, communication, and project management. They will also gain first-hand exposure to careers in technology and experience the impact they can have when they use their talents to help others. We expect approximately 40-50 participants, including 10-15 youth participants, and serve between 3-5 local nonprofit organizations.
People for Change Coalition was awarded a $10,000 grant to support its 4-week Summer Career Enrichment Program (SCEP) summer program that exposes middle and high school students from rural Maryland to career tech programs and courses. The program offers 9 different tracks, including Animation, App Development, Careers in Healthcare, Chess, Cyber, Drones, Media Arts, Presentation Design, and Robotics. The SCEP has a unique partnership with the Mid-Shore Regional Council, PFC Coalition, Eastern Shore Entrepreneurship Center, and 3 County school systems. The program takes place at Easton High School in Talbot County, serving students from Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot Counties. With a goal to enroll 300 students, SCEP has already filled 369 seats with 251 students enrolled as of April 14. The program is designed to help build skills in technology, encourage innovation and problem-solving, enhance digital literacy and confidence, and respond to the demand for careers in tech fields. The grant will support the program’s online registration database, parent information sessions via ZOOM, and provide free breakfast, lunch, and bus transportation for students.
Community Youth Advance (CYA) was awarded a $10,000 grant to support its STEAM Summer Camp and ConnectPGC project, which aims to empower middle school students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to use technology for social impact and creative exploration. The program will provide a unique opportunity for these students to develop skills in coding, design thinking, and civic responsibility through a hands-on, project-based approach. The project will introduce students to coding, design thinking, and civic responsibility through a six-month design cycle. Students will identify community needs, develop a mobile application, organize resource data, design a user-friendly interface, and promote the app. No prior experience is needed. The program will also provide opportunities for students to engage with local community organizations and businesses, fostering connections and building relationships that can benefit their future education and career goals.
Lawless Academy LTD was awarded a $10,000 grant to support its “Empowering Youth Through Virtual Reality (VR)” project, which aims to empower underserved youth through technology-driven education. The project uses VR technology to teach critical life skills such as job interview training, self-esteem building, financial literacy, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and social-emotional learning. By integrating VR into the program, participants will engage with real-life scenarios in a safe, interactive environment, allowing them to practice skills, receive feedback, and retain information more effectively. This hands-on approach fosters confidence and preparedness for real-world challenges, helping at-risk youth develop essential skills for employment and financial independence.