Thanks to the Toyota USA Foundation, students in one of Georgia’s largest school districts will soon have access to cutting-edge STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education.
In August, the organization said it will give up to $8.6 million in grants to Fulton County Schools, which serves about 90,000 students in the heart of Atlanta. The funding is a part of Driving Possibilities, the foundation’s national initiative to prepare children for a STEM-oriented world.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, STEM occupations are expected to grow by nearly 11% by 2031. That’s more than twice as fast as the growth projected for non-STEM jobs!
“Our goal is to increase awareness of future STEM careers while helping build sustainable programs in the communities where our Toyota team members live and work,” Tellis Bethel, Toyota’s group vice president of social innovation, said. “With nearly $2.3 million in the first year, and more to come in years ahead, we’re looking forward to the expansion of Driving Possibilities in the Fulton County area.”
At Fulton County Schools, the grant money will go toward improving the Student and Family Engagement (SAFE) Centers, integrating more STEM learning into the existing curriculum and training teachers on how to best teach STEM concepts. The funding will be given in pieces over the next few years.
Fulton County Schools isn’t the first district to benefit from Driving Possibilities. It’s actually the initiative’s seventh site — including pledging $6.7 million to Huntsville City Schools in Alabama.
Toyota is dedicated to giving back to the communities in which its associates live and work. Metro Atlanta is home to a Toyota Financial Services office and a Lexus parts distribution center.
“We want to demonstrate how much we appreciate our local communities,” Scott Cooke, Toyota Financial Services’ president and CEO, said. “We consider it a privilege to support Fulton County Schools educators who are providing young people with essential knowledge and skillsets in science, technology, engineering, and math.”
Since 1987, the Toyota USA Foundation has strived to support K-12 students across the United States, especially regarding STEM education.
In August, the organization said it will give up to $8.6 million in grants to Fulton County Schools, which serves about 90,000 students in the heart of Atlanta. The funding is a part of Driving Possibilities, the foundation’s national initiative to prepare children for a STEM-oriented world.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, STEM occupations are expected to grow by nearly 11% by 2031. That’s more than twice as fast as the growth projected for non-STEM jobs!
“Our goal is to increase awareness of future STEM careers while helping build sustainable programs in the communities where our Toyota team members live and work,” Tellis Bethel, Toyota’s group vice president of social innovation, said. “With nearly $2.3 million in the first year, and more to come in years ahead, we’re looking forward to the expansion of Driving Possibilities in the Fulton County area.”
At Fulton County Schools, the grant money will go toward improving the Student and Family Engagement (SAFE) Centers, integrating more STEM learning into the existing curriculum and training teachers on how to best teach STEM concepts. The funding will be given in pieces over the next few years.
Fulton County Schools isn’t the first district to benefit from Driving Possibilities. It’s actually the initiative’s seventh site — including pledging $6.7 million to Huntsville City Schools in Alabama.
Toyota is dedicated to giving back to the communities in which its associates live and work. Metro Atlanta is home to a Toyota Financial Services office and a Lexus parts distribution center.
“We want to demonstrate how much we appreciate our local communities,” Scott Cooke, Toyota Financial Services’ president and CEO, said. “We consider it a privilege to support Fulton County Schools educators who are providing young people with essential knowledge and skillsets in science, technology, engineering, and math.”
Since 1987, the Toyota USA Foundation has strived to support K-12 students across the United States, especially regarding STEM education.