Education


California Students Make Donation to Space Foundation

Written by: developer

Money Raised by Students Benefits Space Foundation Education Programs

The Space Foundation is honored to have been selected as the recipient of money raised by students at Bonita Canyon Elementary School in Irvine, Calif., who were participating in a youth leadership/service program called “Team Kids Challenge.”

The “Team Kids Challenge” is a five-week experience delivered in elementary schools, providing children with age-appropriate ways of getting involved in community service and giving back to the community. The program helps them develop a passion for community service throughout their lives. The students work alongside police officers, firefighters, educators and parent volunteers to address real-world issues, such as homelessness, hunger, safety and the environment. It is the flagship and award-winning program of Team Kids, an Irvine-based nonprofit organization whose mission it is to empower children to change the world.  

Last November, 500 students from Bonita Canyon Elementary participated in the “Team Kids Challenge,” helping to aid people in need. Students in the fifth and sixth grades (pictured right and below) planned a fundraising carnival to benefit a cause chosen by the students. The students at Bonita Canyon Elementary School chose ‘aerospace science research’ as their cause. It was the first time this cause had been selected, so the staff at Team Kids had to do some research to find an organization that best aligned with the students’ wishes. The Space Foundation was selected because of its work in creating awareness of space activities and STEM education.

The Space Foundation was presented with a check for $764.64 and a letter from Team Kids’ CEO and founder, Julie Hudash, who wrote:

We hope our school children can become an additional resource to the Space Foundation and increase the knowledge in our communities to advance space-related endeavors to inspire and propel humanity!

Since 2001, “Team Kids Challenge” participants have raised more than $550,000 in cash and in-kind donations for a variety of nonprofits.

The Space Foundation is building and inspiring the next generation of engineers, chemists, scientists and technology professionals, as well as improving the overall quality of education, through teacher, student and community programs that use space themes to improve students’ interest and skills in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). This year, more than 8,000 students and teachers will be served, both on-site at our Space Foundation Discovery Center in Colorado Springs and through distance-delivery throughout the world.

For more information about supporting Space Foundation education programs, please call Development at 719-576-8000, or email [email protected].

This article is part of Space Watch: March 2015 (Volume: 14, Issue: 3).


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