BDPA Commends Fifth Third Bank on $5,000 Grant

BDPA Cincinnati and its fundraising arm, BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF), commends Fifth Third Bank for their generous $5,000 grant.

Karen Lipscomb, BDPA Cincinnati Vice President of Member Services said, “Fifth Third Bank has been a staunch champion of BDPA for a number of years, contributing to the chapter financially as well as through the gift of resources. We look forward to a continuing relationship in which, through this partnership, we develop and retain IT talent for the greater Cincinnati area.”

Located in Cincinnati, Fifth Third Bank became the first financial institution in the United States to establish a charitable foundation. They are committed to actively engaging individuals and community groups to affect positive change and continue to invest time, resources, and people to help improve lives in the communities they serve.

BDPA Cincinnati Computer Camp Coordinator Frank Hill states, "Investing time and treasure in young people today will yield leaders, mentors and innovators needed to guarantee a brighter tomorrow for all of us. I rejoice each time I get a message about the latest successes of BDPA alumni!"

BDPA was founded in 1975 by Earl Pace and David Wimberly to close the digital divide for underrepresented minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields. BDPA has over 40 chapters nationwide with more than 2,500 STEM professional and student members. BDPA offers over $100,000 in scholarships annually to hundreds of high school and college students who wish to pursue STEM careers.

For more information on BDPA or a sponsorship, please contact BDPA’s corporate sponsorship program at (301) 584-3135 ext.108 or corpsales@bdpa.org. Additionally, please visit www.bdpa.org.

Grant Disbursement: BDPA Dallas ($2,831)

BDPA Dallas chapter president Chad White submitted a proposal seeking fund from the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF). The chapter needed the funds to support the growth of its Student Information Technology Education and Scholarship (SITES) program and chapter events. They plan to use the fund to ensure that their students can attend the 2017 BDPA Technology Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio on July 26-29. The remaining funds will go towards generating events the Dallas area that generate funds and growth for the Dallas Chapter.

BETF provided a $2,831 grant disbursement to BDPA Dallas chapter.

BETF would love to be supportive of all 47 chapters as they seek funding for youth education programs. Just reach out to us in accordance with the 7-step process shown on our website.

Grant Recipient * BDPA Greater Columbia ($4,000)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) awarded BDPA Greater Columbia with a $4,000 grant in support of its 2017 Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program. The funds will be used for 2017 BDPA Conference registration, lodging, airfare, incidentals for Youth Technology Students, expenses for chaperones, classroom instruction and college scholarships.

BDPA Gr. Columbia Students

BETF seeks to provide funding for National BDPA and its 46 local chapters. We encourage you to support our BDPA Greater Columbia chapter by making a secure online contribution.

Grant Award: Christ Church Cathedral ($15,000)

Christ Church Cathedral

BDPA Cincinnati Chapter is pleased to announce that it won a $15,000 Christ Church Cathedral grant award for its Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program. The funds will be used to sustain the interest of disadvantaged young people in science and technology. BDPA introduces computers and basic software programming to underserved young people in the Cincinnati Public School system and local colleges and universities. 80% of the US jobs created in the next decade will require math and science skills. The average salary of STEM employees is 70% higher than all other occupations. Student interest is simply too low in science, technology, education and math (STEM) areas. 84% of middle school students say that they would rather clean their room, eat their vegetables, go to the dentist or take out the garbage than learn math or science.

BDPA will use the Christ Church Cathedral funding to respond to these troubling statistics with the SITES program that teaches advance computer science and community responsibility to students from disadvantaged communities. The centerpiece of the SITES program is the High School Computer Competition (HSCC) that is taught at the BDPA computer camp on Saturdays. BDPA is reaching out to 8th-12th graders to participate in the computer camp. Youngsters are encouraged to apply online at www.bdpa-camp.org and attend the orientation session on Saturday, January 9, 2016 at Cincinnati State.

“BDPA Cincinnati Chapter is extremely grateful to Christ Church Cathedral for their $15,000 grant in support of the BDPA mission to improve the number of minorities interested and engaged in technology within greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky,” says BDPA Cincinnati chapter president Dalric Webb. “Christ Church Cathedral has been a long time supporter of the BDPA mission and through their support, the BDPA Cincinnati team of volunteers has been able to make a positive impact on engaging youth and professionals within our community to more opportunities in the technology field”.

2015 BDPA Cincinnati SITES Students

The 2016 SITES students will participate in a 30-week computer camp program and become eligible for the Brandon Berry Memorial Scholarship. Out of the program, five students will be selected to represent Cincinnati in the National BDPA HSCC championship held on August 10-13, 2016 in Atlanta, GA.

BDPA is the premier organization for African American professionals in the information technology industry. For more than 25 years, BDPA Cincinnati has fulfilled its mission and worked to bridge the digital divide by providing career growth opportunities for its members. BDPA Cincinnati is the largest and fastest-growing of the 47 chapters that exist around the nation.

For more information on the SITES program or BDPA Cincinnati chapter, call (513) 549-6991 or email cincinnati@bdpa.org.

BETF Approves $900 Grant to BDPA Seattle for Kickoff Event

Ann Robinson

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) approved a $900 grant disbursement to BDPA Seattle chapter.  BDPA Seattle chapter president Ann Robinson requested the funding for the kickoff event to rejuvenate BDPA programs and services in the Pacific Northwest area. The event takes place on November 19, 2015 at the African American Museum in Seattle.

BDPA Seattle is the most prestigious IT organization in the Pacific Northwest and throughout the technology industry. It is very important that Seattle residents are plugged into a nationwide network of IT entrepreneurs, executives, professionals and students throughout the industry. BDPA Seattle seeks to advance the careers of its members in the technology industry from the classroom to the boardroom.

Ann Robinson noted, "As the President, I am here to support and help you with anything that you need to support your future endeavors. We provide professional development programs, workshops, IT career pathway, online resume service, career fairs, entrepreneurial opportunities, high school and college programs and many other services that will help you in your success. BDPA shifts your career into overdrive."

BETF is very proud to provide the funding to get the BDPA message out to our Pacific Northwest stakeholders.

Grant Recipient * BDPA Los Angeles ($6,000)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) awarded BDPA Los Angeles with a $6,000 grant in support of its 2015 Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship program.   The funds paid for 2015 BDPA Conference registration, lodging, airfare, incidentals for Youth Technology Students, expenses for chaperones, classroom instruction and college scholarships.

BDPA Los Angeles Computer Camp Students

 BETF seeks to provide funding for National BDPA and its 47 local chapters.   We encourage you to support our BDPA Los Angeles chapter by making a secure online contribution.

Grant Recipient: BDPA Milwaukee ($1,011)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation proudly announces that it approved a $1,011 grant for BDPA Milwaukee chapter. The funding came primarily from an online fundraiser that BDPA Milwaukee chapter worked on the Crowdrise platform. The funds will be used for participation of students at the 2015 BDPA Technology Conference.

BDPA Milwaukee Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program trained 27 young people this year. The young people arrived at BDPA from a variety of Milwaukee area schools that included Rufus King, Washington, Kradwell, Brookfield Elementary, Brown Deer and many more. The young people were taught web development, programming and database technology as well as 21st-Century business skills from a dedicated cadre of instructors and advisers.

Back:  Gnanam Chokkalingam, Markyla Towns, Jayla Childress, Asia Canada, Kapil Chokkalingam

Front: Alvin Cherry, Alex Hudson, Xavier Jones, Vendah Jones, Isaiah Jones

Not Shown: Makyle McIntyre, Price Hunt

The SITES volunteers and instructors came from a number of corporate partners in the Milwaukee area: County of Milwaukee, GE Healthcare, Jason Industries, MillerCoors, Milwaukee Public Schools, Rockwell Automation, Tech Mahindra and many others.  BDPA Milwaukee continues to seek support from its members and sponsors. You can make a secure online donation to the BDPA Milwaukee SITES Scholarship Fund right away!

Grant Recipient: BDPA Chicago ($2,250)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) approved a partial grant payment of $2,250 to the BDPA Chicago chapter. The chapter originally requested $5,000 to support its programs ... however, BETF was only in position to provide a partial grant.

Reggie Rush

BDPA Chicago chapter president Reggie Rush wrote, "The training program for our annual High School Computer Competition (HSCC) program has been ongoing and challenging. The students in our program are committed and should be allowed to demonstrate what they have learned in the National HSCC championship. The majority of our students are new to BDPA and those that are not eligible to compete would benefit from attending the Youth Technology Camp as an incentive to work harder to make the team next year. We have doubled our fundraising efforts but due to the reduction in financial support, we are requesting additional support from BETF."

BETF is committed to work with BDPA Chicago in the coming weeks and months to get an early start of its fundraising for the 2016 cycle. We ask that the readers of this blog take a moment to make a secure online donation in support of BDPA Chicago!

Grant Recipient: BDPA Dallas ($5,000)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation approved a $5,000 grant for BDPA Dallas chapter. BDPA Dallas chapter president Chad White submitted a request for the funding in July 2015. The purpose of the funding is to assist with traveling needs for BDPA Dallas students to attend the National Conference later this month.

L-R: Christion Lankford, Amani Duncker, Jayln Jackson,
Kierra Obey, Ean Herrera, Jaden Reese

The chapter selected five students who will represent the city in the annual High School Computer Competition championship. There will also be two chaperones in attendance to support the students.  BDPA Dallas students have been training since early in the year for the championship. The students are always excited, motivated and eager to learn about the components of the competition process.

Much of the funding for this $5,000 grant came as a result of volunteer grants secured by employees of BlueCross BlueShield of Texas. The chapter also received support from members of the fundraising team on Crowdrise.

Good luck Dallas!

Grant Disbursement: BDPA Los Angeles ($2,743)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is pleased to announce approval of the funding request made by BDPA Los Angeles in the amount of $2,743.00. This grant disbursement flows smoothly with our vision to achieve, through investment in education and technology, an informed minority community prepared to lead and leverage the knowledge revolution for the benefit of the community-at-large.

The funding request was made earlier this month by BDPA Los Angeles chapter president David Malonson. The funding will be used to cover expenses incurred within the chapter's Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program. Specifically, the chapter needed the funds to ensure the full participation of three students and a chaperone at the 2014 BDPA Technology Conference held in Indianapolis, IN.

BETF appreciates the aggressive fundraising efforts by BDPA Los Angeles chapter over the past year. We are hopeful to see similar activity from the other 45 local BDPA chapters around the nation. The funding process is explained in more detail on the BETF website.

Grant Disbursement: BDPA Cincinnati ($2,000)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is pleased to announce it has made a $2,000 grant disbursement to the BDPA Cincinnati chapter. The chapter president, Dalric Webb, requested the funding to support 18th Annual Education Banquet to honor the students and volunteers who participated in the Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program this year. BDPA Cincinnati will have a lot to celebrate as its students did quite well at the 2014 BDPA Technology Conference held earlier this month in Indianapolis.

BETF encourages all local chapters to take a moment to review the SITES funding guidelines. BETF seeks to support the 2015 SITES funding needs for all 46 local chapters. Click here to learn more about the process that Cincinnati chapter successfully used to obtain this $2,000 grant disbursement!

Grant Disbursement: BDPA Philadelphia ($500)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation issued a $500 grant disbursement to the BDPA Philadelphia chapter this week.

BDPA Philadelphia chapter president Eileen Gadsden requested the funding in support of the chapter's expenses related to the 2013 National High School Computer Competition championship. The funds support travel and lodging for three students, two trainers and the HSCC coordinator.

BDPA Founder and the HSCC Team from Philadelphia

Congratulations to BDPA Philadelphia for its strong efforts to provide meaningful STEM-related programs to its young people. BDPA is making a difference in its efforts to promote the 'future faces of technology'.

Grant Disbursement: BDPA Charlotte ($9,063)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is pleased to announce approval of $9,063 grant disbursement to BDPA Greater Charlotte chapter. This grant disbursement flows smoothly with our vision to achieve, through investment in education and technology, an informed Black community prepared to lead and leverage the knowledge revolution for the benefit of the community-at-large.

BDPA Charlotte chapter president Markus Beamer requested the funding to pay for its Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program in 2013.  This project lasted for eight months and allowed IT professionals to teach high school students how to build 3-tier web applications.  The SITES program introduces these young people to real-world problems and assists them in building solutions for those problems.  The highest performers from this program were awarded an all-expenses paid trip to Washington DC to participate in the Youth Technology Camp and compete in the 2013 National BDPA High School Computer Competition championship!

Congratulations to BDPA Charlotte chapter for its strong efforts to provide meaningful STEM-related programs to its young people. BDPA is making a difference in its efforts to promote the 'future faces of technology'.

Grant Disbursement: BDPA Greater Columbia ($2,550)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is pleased to announce approval of $2,550 grant disbursement to BDPA Greater Columbia chapter. This grant disbursement flows smoothly with our vision to achieve, through investment in education and technology, an informed Black community prepared to lead and leverage the knowledge revolution for the benefit of the community-at-large.

BDPA Gr Columbia Students

BDPA Greater Columbia chapter president Mildred Allen requested the funding to pay for the High School Computer Training Program and High School Computer Competition (HSCC) program in 2013. Twenty-five students participated in the 2013 program on a local level in South Carolina. Ten of these student members participated in the National HSCC and the Youth Technology Camp during the 2013 BDPA Technology Conference in Washington DC.

Congratulations to BDPA Greater Columbia for its strong efforts to provide meaningful STEM-related programs to its young people. BDPA is making a difference in its efforts to promote the 'future faces of technology'.

Grant Disbursement: BDPA Dallas ($750)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is pleased to announce approval of $750 grant disbursement to BDPA Dallas chapter. This grant disbursement flows smoothly with our vision to achieve, through investment in education and technology, an informed Black community prepared to lead and leverage the knowledge revolution for the benefit of the community-at-large.

BDPA Dallas chapter president Stacy Stewart requested the funding to pay for the college scholarships for the three young men trained by the chapter to compete in the 2013 National High School Computer Competition (HSCC) championship. 

Congratulations to BDPA Dallas for its strong efforts to provide meaningful STEM-related programs to its young people. BDPA is making a difference in its efforts to promote the 'future faces of technology'.

Grant Disbursement: BDPA Philadelphia Chapter ($500)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation approved a $500 grant disbursement to the BDPA Philadelphia chapter.

BDPA Philadelphia chapter president Eileen Gadsden requested the funding in support of the chapter's expenses related to the upcoming National High School Computer Competition championship. The funds will support travel and lodging for three students, two trainers and the HSCC coordinator.

Grant Disbursement: BDPA Chicago ($7,500)

BDPA Chicago Students

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is pleased to announce a $7,500 grant disbursement has been approved for the BDPA Chicago chapter! BDPA Chicago chapter president Pamela Sexton submitted IRS Tax Receipt Form requesting $7,500 disbursement.

She wrote, "These funds are used to support training, materials and location of our HSCC program. The funds will also assist with national conference expenses."

The decision to approve this grant disbursement was simple because the chapter and its members have been working with BETF in a number of ways. There are a number of chapter members who contributed to BDPA programs, scholarships and services via the Allstate Giving Campaign, AT&T United Way Employee Giving Campaign and the United Way of Metro Chicago. Our hope is that others will follow these examples so that BDPA Chicago can continue to grow the impact of the meaningful STEM-based training given to our young people each weekend.

Grant Disbursement: BDPA Triangle Chapter ($650)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) exists to providing funding support for BDPA programs, scholarships and services in our 46 local chapters around the nation. As such, BETF is pleased to announce approval of a $650 grant disbursement to BDPA Triangle chapter. The funds will support a truly uplifting event held earlier this year.

Carl Hill Congratulates Ensign Stevenson

BDPA Triangle chapter president Carl Hill and chapter VP-Finance Bobby Lamaute made their request as follows:

"BDPA Triangle chapter provided a venue and event to announce the graduation and announcement of a HSCC participant from South Carolina. Ensign Raven Stephenson graduated from Duke University with a full scholarship of $180k that was awarded in 2009 by the US Navy. Sever chapter presidents participated in this momentous occasion that was well-publicized. In attendance were chapter presidents from Greater Columbia, Triangle and Washington DC as well as national president Monique Berry."

It is always a pleasure when BETF is able to celebrate the success of the young people in our Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship program. BDPA volunteers work day-by-day to advance the careers of BDPA members in the IT industry from the 'classroom to the boardroom'. You can do your part. You can make a secure online donation that will help some of our students in North Carolina afford a college education. What say u?

Grant Disbursement: BDPA Richmond ($3,000)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) approved a $3,000 grant disbursement to BDPA Richmond chapter. The request for funding was submitted by chapter president Christopher Parker.

Christopher wrote,

"We are requesting our restricted funds ($2,500 from McKesson matching gifts and $500 from McKesson board grant. We will use the funding to support $2,000 in college scholarships in Fall 2013 and Spring 2014; $300 for elementary LEGO and other chapter operations such as program meetings."

This grant disbursement flows smoothly with the BETF vision to achieve, through investment in education and technology, an informed minority community prepared to lead and leverage the knowledge revolution for the benefit of the community-at-large. BETF hopes to work with BDPA Richmond chapter on funding for its 2014 SITES program.

Quite frankly, BETF wants to work with all 46 local BDPA chapters and any interested BDPA member or supporter to explore increased funding opportunities through payroll deductions or joint grant proposals.

Grant Disbursement: BDPA Detroit ($650)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation approved a $650 grant request from BDPA Detroit chapter. Chapter president Beverly Moore and chapter VP-Finance Loraine Stewart-David submitted the formal request for funding with the following explanation:

"Once a year, the HSCC coordinators have a planning meeting to guide the direction of the High School Computer Competition (HSCC) program locally and nationally. This funding will allow our chapter to have input in the discussions on direction and changes for the HSCC program."

This grant disbursement will ensure that the chapter HSCC coordinator Tonji Zimmerman will be in Orlando next month for the annual meeting.