Project Exploration Giving Tuesday 2020

While all students will experience learning loss during the pandemic and e-learning, we know community wealth gives some students the opportunity to catch up when they have missed too much school. Project Exploration's (PE) students won't have that luxury - 92% of PE students come from low-income families and were already at a disadvantage going into the pandemic. The urgency of our support is greater now than at any other time in our organization's 21-year history.

Project Exploration has already stepped up, pivoting in March to support students, families, and school partners completely virtually. Compared to this time last year, Project Exploration is currently serving 300% more students. 

Now, we need YOUR help. We have 4 additional Chicago Public School partners and counting in urgent need of additional support for their students starting in the New Year. Serving these schools and students will require new funding for additional STEMkits, student incentives, and talented STEM facilitators to mentor students and lead programs. We need to raise $10,000 to make this happen. Can we count on you?

This #GivingTuesday, invest in the bright futures of 200 new Project Exploration students. A donation of just $20 can provide the supplies in a new student's first STEMkit! 

Why Science and Why STEM Education?

While the work we do is STEM education, Project Exploration is first and foremost a social justice organization. Opportunities in STEM education are blocked for young people of color and girls - program fees, transportation requirements, and academic prerequisites make them inaccessible to our students. We recruit students who are not academically successful and engage them in meaningful work alongside real-world STEM professionals. We get to know students - their interests, their lives, and activities outside of programs - and have created an organization by and for the students we serve, recognizing the power of relationship-building. Our aim is to equip students with skills and experiences that would allow them to pursue a STEM career and give them confidence that they can achieve their goals - even if their goals are not to pursue STEM. 

Our Efforts are Working!

A ten year longitudinal study revealed that our students are three times more likely to enroll in a four-year college than their peers, and over one-third of Project Exploration alumni major in a STEM-related discipline. 

95% of PE participants have graduated from high school, or are on track to graduate.

42% increased interest in science careers among PE participants.

32% of past participants hold science-related employment.

85% of students say that PE introduced them to educational options they had not considered.

Please Support the Bright Futures of Chicago’s Young People Today!

Longtime PE supporters, Judy and Tom Lubin are matching contributions up to $5,000 on Giving Tuesday! There are two ways to support Project Exploration today: 

1. Follow us on social media! Every new follow and like on social media
2. Make a donation of any size! A $50 donation sponsors one new student for Spring programs.

Make your donation count for even more by making a donation during Power Hour, from 5-6 pm CT! It Project Exploration receives the most unique donations during this hour, we will earn a $1,000 bonus, while may allow PE to hire 2 new STEM Facilitators to lead our high-quality STEM programs! Donate and help us spread the word today!