INNOVATE Albion Awarded Albion-Homer United Way Grant
Local students will have more free hands-on opportunities thanks to the Albion-Homer United Way.
INNOVATE Albion received a $2,500 grant to support STEM Saturdays year-long free program. The weekend activities are designed to serve K-12 students and their families at the INNOVATE Albion site at 200 W. Center St.
Students can get hands-on with technology, math, manufacturing and robotics during the open-house type program. According to INNOVATE Albion Executive Director Caroline Hurteau this “Petting Zoo” creates an “approach that helps students of all ages have that spark that comes with hands-on learning.”
Hurteau continued, “The goal is to give each student the opportunity to have a positive experience in the STEM educational space and drive students to manufacturing, engineering and technical education to increase our regional business sustainability.”
Targeting all students in the greater Albion and Calhoun County area is the mission of the STEM Saturday’s program. The goal is to run the once-a-month program and reach over 1,000 students and families during 2023.
In addition to the AHUW grant other organizations such as Consumers Energy, Kellogg Community College and other manufacturing facilities are supporting this effort.
Albion-Homer United Way’s commitment is to help fund non-profit programs through grants. On-going donations throughout the year are needed for funding these efforts.
According to AHUW Executive Director Marcia Starkey there are several good reasons to donate to the local United Way including that donations fund Albion and Homer specific programs and funding decisions are made by a local board. Donor lists are never shared with other agencies and payroll deductions make donating easier. Donations can be mailed at any time to AHUW P.O. Box 55, Albion, MI 49224, made on-line at www.albionhomeruw.org or by contacting Starkey at 517-499-2563.
AHUW board members are Virgie Ammerman, Carolyn Amos, Donisha Brewer, Chris Burdette, Art Kale, Michael Leskowich, Isabell Nazar, Eddie Williams and Shane Williamson.
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STEM Saturdays at INNOVATE Albion are partially funded by the Albion-Homer United Way. The free Saturday sessions are open to all K-12 students and families in the Albion area and Calhoun County.