Duke Energy Foundation Grant awarded to United Way of South Central Indiana for the Childhood Development STEM Program

BEDFORD – United Way of South Central Indiana received a $10,000 grant from the Duke Energy Foundation towards the Childhood Development STEM Program to create and implement dedicated STEM classrooms in elementary schools.

The Duke Energy Foundation is committed to making sure that every child receives a fair chance at academic success. The funding awarded from this grant will be used for STEM education for grades K-6, and STEM training for teachers to implement this program.

Makerspaces learning helps students build hands-on STEM skills, in addition to books and classroom instruction. The hands-on approach to STEM education is helping educators foster a deeper passion in children for science, technology, and mathematics.

United Way of South Central Indiana is dedicated to helping to create “A” schools in Lawrence and Orange Counties with the addition of STEM learning. Early STEM learning establishes a strong foundation of skills in science, math, creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking.

Kim Burgess
Executive Director United Way of South Central Indiana

“Our goal is to provide STEM education to all of the elementary schools in both Lawrence and Orange counties, providing children in grades K-6 with an equal opportunity to advance towards a career,” said Kim Burgess Executive Director United Way of South Central Indiana.

The overall plan is to provide STEM education to children to increase their opportunities for future employment in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Last year UWSCI partnered with North Lawrence Community Schools to implement STEM education, with hands-on lessons in science, technology, engineering, and math in an interdisciplinary approach.

To fuel this program, UWSCI donated $50,000 and $25,000 yearly afterward with the plans to expand to other pre-schools in Lawrence and Orange counties.

In Lawrence County, 42 percent of all households live in ALICE and poverty conditions with income above the Federal Poverty Level but below a basic survival threshold. The ALICE® Threshold stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.

The United Way ALICE report states, “A quality education is still one of the best predictors of professional and financial success in the U.S., and one of the few ways ALICE families can get ahead.”