United Technologies

United Technologies (UTC) supports a broad range of community activities and focuses efforts in four areas including "Advancing STEM Education (Science, technology, engineering and mathematics)". Since 1994, UTC has sponsored FIRST Robotics competitions at high schools across the country with $2.8 million in sponsorship. Partnering with FIRST combines UTC's dedication to math and science education with its corporate focus on innovation. Last year, UTC supported 29 teams with cash, engineering expertise and professionals who coached and mentored the teams.

UTC accepts grant applications from nonprofits that seek to advance the education of science, technology, engineering and mathematics to develop the next generation of engineers and scientists. UTC targets programs that include employee volunteerism to spark students’ interest and inspire innovation especially for minorities and women.

Applicants are eligible to apply for a grant one time per calendar year and will receive notification within one quarter of their application submission. UTC accepts grant applications only online, and applicants will be notified only by e-mail if additional information is required as part of the online review process.

The window for submitting the grant application is March 1 thru June 1 each year.

Agilent Technologies Foundation

The Agilent Technologies Foundation focuses their grant-making activities on two areas: advancing university research in the bio-sciences and electronics, and on furthering interest and excellence in pre-university science.

Agilent focuses its philanthropy in communities where it has a major presence. The Foundation partners with national initiatives and local organizations around the world to provide grants that support the local community. Through this strategy, employees and the foundation develop partnerships with targeted, foundation-selected programs. This strategic focus enables us to have a greater impact in our communities.

To that end, they do not accept unsolicited grant requests or proposals.

For more information on the Agilent Technologies Foundation, e-mail them at foundation@agilent.com. For examples of programs they fund, please visit their programs and partnership pages.

Let us know if you have any Agilent Technologies employees in your membership? These folks don't accept unsolicited grant proposals ... therefore we will need an internal champion.

National Science Foundation Publishes Computer Science Newsletter

CSEdWeek is here and the National Science Foundation, in support of the celebration, announced its rollout of CS Bits & Bytes, a biweekly newsletter highlighting innovative computer science research aimed at high school teachers and students.

NSF will release CS Bits & Bytes biweekly, beginning on December 5 and continue publication through the end of the 2011/2012 academic year. NSF hopes that educators and parents will use CS Bits & Bytes to inspire students to engage in the multi-faceted world of computer science, to become not just users but creators of technology, and to develop the abilities to utilize computation skills, no matter what their interests.

I encourage all BDPA-Blog readers to subscribe to the NSF publication. If you'd like to receive their newsletter, please send an email to listserv@listserv.nsf.gov with the text of the message as follows:


subscribe csbytes
for example: subscribe csbytes Eugenia Robinson

This Week in BDPA (Dec 4-10)

BDPA has 45 chapters around the nation. You can always find programs, services or networking activity here or here or here. BDPA supports your efforts for career advancement in the IT industry.

Our hope is that you find reasons to provide tax-deductible support to us here, here or here!

Are you taking advantage of these programs? Here is a weekly preview of upcoming events gathered from the centralized BDPA calendar :

• Dec 5-10: United States - Seminars, 'Computer Science Education Week'
• Dec 6, New York - Fundraiser, 'Holiday Party and SITES Fundraiser'
• Dec 10: Los Angeles - Fundraiser, 'Scholarships and Awards Luncheon'
  

We encourage all BDPA leaders to take advantage of the centralized BDPA Groupsite Calendar to post your upcoming events! Please let us know of other BDPA events that we may have missed. Most importantly, let us know if you plan to attend any BDPA events this week.

AT&T United Way Employee Giving Campaign

BETF proudly receives pledged payments through the AT&T Employee Giving Campaign made by Gibran McDuffie. Our foundation is proud to be part of the annual giving program for AT&T. The donation made by Gibran will be used to support BDPA Chicago programs and services.

Our hope is that other BDPA members will consider making payroll deductions during annual giving campaigns put on by United Way, Combined Federal Campaign or the company itself. Others may simply want to make a one-time donation directly to BETF in support of the youth education programs taking place all over the country.

Please share some 'BDPA-Love' with Gibran in the COMMENTS section below!

Letter of Inquiry: Starbucks Foundation (BDPA New York)

BDPA New York chapter president Renetta English worked with the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) on a letter of inquiry (LOI) to Starbucks Foundation.

We are hopeful that Starbucks Foundation will review our LOI and reply to us with approval to submit a full-fledged grant application. We want to request $5,000 in funding to support the Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program in New York City.

Wish us luck!

Computer Science Education Week (December 5-11, 2010)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) encourages all of our supporters to find a way to get engaged in the upcoming Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek). CSEdWeek 2010 is a call to action to raise awareness about computer science education and computing careers. CSEdWeek is endorsed by the U.S. Congress and designated as December 5-11, 2010 in recognition of the birthday of computing pioneer Admiral Grace Hopper (December 9, 1906).

CSEdWeek aims to:

• Eliminate misconceptions about computer science and computing careers.
• Communicate the endless opportunities for which computer science education prepares students in K-12, higher education and careers.
• Provide information and activities for students, educators, parents, and corporations to advocate for computer science education at all levels.

Why Computer Science?
Computer science is ubiquitous; it touches everyone’s daily lives and plays a critical role in today’s society by driving innovation and economic growth. The field is shaping the future by solving some of the world’s grandest challenges and creating today’s most exciting innovations. Computing related jobs remain strong despite the nation’s extraordinary economic challenges.

Why Computer Science Education?
Computer science education is essential to:

• Expose students to critical thinking and problem solving.
• Instill understanding of computational thinking for success in the digital age.
• Train students for computing careers that are exciting, plentiful and financially rewarding.
• Prepare students to tackle the world’s most challenging problems.

Yet as the role and significance of computing has grown, the teaching of computer science in our K-12 education system has dramatically declined. There is insufficient innovative computing curricula for students at all levels; few students have the opportunity to study computer science in an engaging and rigorous way; there is a lack of ethnic and gender diversity among those who do take computer science courses; and teachers have few opportunities for professional development and certification in computer science education.

Join In! Everyone can participate:

• Take the CSEdWeek pledge! Register your support and share your plans to celebrate at www.computinginthecore.org.
• ‘Like’ CSEdWeek on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CSEdWeek and join the conversation.
• Blog, tweet, and post to spread the word and raise awareness.
• Use the #CSEdWeek hashtag.
• Celebrate CSEdWeek in your BDPA chapter, school, club, or workplace.
• Visit http://www.CSEdWeek.org for other suggested activities and resources.

Sponsors and Partners
CSEdWeek is a collaborative effort of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), National Science Foundation (NSF), Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA), National Center for Women & IT (NCWIT), WGBH, Computing Research Association (CRA), Anita Borg Institute for Women in Technology (ABI), Microsoft, Google, SAS, Intel, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

CSEdWeek is an activity of Computing in the Core, a non-partisan advocacy coalition of associations, corporations, scientific societies, and other non-profits that strive to elevate computer science education to a core academic subject in K-12 education.

Next step is yours.  Will you be engaged with CSEdWeek this year?

Grant Proposal: Go Daddy Cares (BDPA Cleveland)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) partnered with BDPA Cleveland chapter to submit an online grant proposal to Go Daddy Cares. Our funding request seeks support for the Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program in Cleveland.

Wish us luck ... or you can be more direct with your support of our BDPA programs in Cleveland!

Progressive Technology Project

Progressive Technology Project (PTP) was founded by grassroots organizers to support progressive community-led organizing in low income communities and communities of color. Their mission is to help community-led organizations achieve their goals more effectively and efficiently. PTP programs help community organizers build their skills and understanding to integrate technology into the work of the organizations. To do this, PTP provides a range of services including training, technical assistance, and consulting.

PTP supports the integration of technology to strengthen grassroots social change and community organizing efforts. Typically, PTP makes 10-15 gifts of up to $10k each in equipment, training, and technical assistance.

Does this seem like something that would be of interest to your local chapter or national business area?

Go Daddy Cares

Go Daddy is proud of its long history of charitable patronage and supporting the communities that its employees call home.

During the past three years, Go Daddy’s philanthropic works supported a wide variety of charitable and community organizations dedicated to such causes as domestic violence, child abuse, blind children, teenage homelessness, animal shelters and more. Major recipients of Go Daddy contributions over the past several years include the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, The Emily Center at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, the Arizona Humane Society, the Child Crisis Center of Arizona, Chrysalis, and the Salvation Army.

Go Daddy’s employees have also participated in a series of events to raise money for charitable causes. In 2010, more than 900 Go Daddy employees participated in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Walk to Cure Diabetes in Tempe, and Glendale, AZ. Other Go Daddy employee efforts have included the annual Every Kid Counts drive, as well as donations to St. Mary’s Food Bank during the holiday season.

How to Apply - If you represent a charitable organization or cause which you believe Go Daddy should support, please complete the Go Daddy Cares application.

Go Daddy will review and consider all applications and will request more information if required. All applicants will receive a written notification regarding Go Daddy’s decision about their request.

Please keep in mind that Go Daddy receives a large number of requests. Accordingly, please submit the Go Daddy Charity Application Form well in advance of your need for funding so as to provide Go Daddy sufficient time to fully consider your application.

BETF is willing to partner with any interested local chapter or national business area VP to seek funding from these folks. I imagine it would be best if your chapter registers its domain with Go Daddy, huh?! Anyhow, we operate on a first-come; first-serve basis. So don't procrastinate in your response.

Payroll Pledge: Microsoft Employee Giving Campaign

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) would like to see a much higher level of individual giving via payroll deductions. We estimate that only 2% of BDPA members make donations to support BETF via United Way, employee giving campaigns or Combined Federal Campaign. It would be nice to see that number rise significantly over the coming weeks and months.

As such, we are very happy to see that Kevin Robinson (Microsoft) made a payroll deduction pledge via the Microsoft Employee Giving Campaign to support BDPA programs and services in Charlotte, North Carolina.

There are scores of Microsoft associates and Blacks at Microsoft (BAM) members who know about the good works of BDPA. I'm hopeful that other Microsoft associates will follow the positive example set by Charlotte-based Kevin Robinson.

Learn more about payroll deduction options here.

Grant Disbursement: BDPA Baton Rouge ($720)

BDPA Baton Rouge chapter president Randy Powe and chapter VP-Finance Glenda Chappell submitted a written request to the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) for $720 funding to reimburse for expenses used to "transport students to and from BDPA Conference in Chicago; expenses during stay, including conference registration."


BETF is proud to report that the funding request is approved. The $720 grant disbursement is being processed right now.   It is worth noting that this is the second BETF grant disbursement for BDPA Baton Rouge chapter.  The first request seeking $1,000 was approved in July 2011.

We encourage all local BDPA chapters to work aggressively with BETF on funding for your programs, scholarships and services. The process is simple and repeatable. Just give the BETF executive director a phone call (513.284-4968) or reach out to him by email.

For now, we ask that everyone share some love with BDPA Baton Rouge chapter ... and drop some benjamins into the chapter's college scholarship fund!

Bemley Scholar Allen Warner Heads to Valdosta State University

Allen Warner earned a Dr. Jesse Bemley Scholarship as a result of the outstanding performance by him and his teammates (see above photo) in the 2011 BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) championship held in Chicago IL. He plans to use his college scholarship to defray the costs of attending Valdosta State University where he plans to major in 'computer science'.

Allen shared his thoughts on his BDPA experiences with us:

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My name is Allen Warner. I am currently 17 years old, born in Tallahassee, Florida. I’ve grown up most of my life in Georgia. I have been learning about computers and anything that has to do with art for about 10 years now. At school I enjoy working on music, poetry, short stories, graphic designs and web layouts. I’ve started my own company and my talents have been noticed by people who could help me later on in my life. I’m seeking a degree in Computer Science, with a minor in Business or Art. I plan to attend Valdosta State University and study subjects such as: Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Graphic Design, Mass Media, Photography, Animation, and Web Design. This will lead me to a large range of jobs in the world since the world is basically run off technology and business.

I currently attend Berkmar High School as a senior. I have done lots of things around the school. For example, I’ve designed the Soccer team t-shirts and scarf’s, Student Council T-shirts, Multi-Cultural Club T-shirts, Class of 2012 Senior Shirts, Homecoming Posters/Tickets and currently working on Prom Designs. Also, I am a member of the Future Business Leaders of America and Student Council. My focus is mostly on my school work now. I will have time in the future to look for employment.

I didn’t have a good impression of BDPA and its high school computer competition (HSCC) program when I first heard about it. I thought it was going to be a bunch of nerds messing around on the computer. My counselor signed me up for the HSCC program without telling me about her action. I thought it was going to be a waste of my summer. All of that changed when I started looking more into it and actually looking at some stuff from the other chapters and talking to some of the older members. I got more interested as I discovered that a majority of the HSCC class was filled with students from my school.

We learned all these things that I never thought I would know, such as CSS, HTML, PHP, Databases, and Binary Numbers. Basically it was high school on the weekends, without all of the drama. It started to get easier each and every day as we continued on with our learning. Soon I became one of the top 5 students in the class.

My coaches always made us feel like family, hanging out, talking and joking around, and they even made the class much easier and fun to be in. I’m very glad I entered this and went through with it. I’ve met lots of people in the HSCC program, such as technical professionals from IBM and Macy’s. I also met a graphic designer from Converse who was interested in some of my work. Without HSCC I would never have been this interested in computer programming the way I am now. Also, they helped me learn additional information, and how to work with a team, and to depend on one another on a day-to-day basis.

Thank You BDPA for All You Help!
Allen Warner, Senior (Class of 2012)
Berkmar High School

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BDPA is very proud of Allen and his teammates. We hope that his testimonial will encourage other high school students in Atlanta and around the nation to take a look at the BDPA youth education programs available to them.  

Quite frankly, we also hope that you've seen enough of the magic of BDPA through Allen's words that you will consider making a secure online donation to support BDPA Atlanta college scholarships for future HSCC students!

Grant Award: Best Buy Children's Foundation ($7,500)

The Best Buy Children's Foundation recently awarded a $7,500 grant to our BDPA Washington DC chapter. The interaction that the chapter had with the Best Buy general manager in Bowie, Maryland was the key factor in getting this financial support. Members of the chapter's Education Committee along with the Best Buy Geek Squad got together to make the presentation of the grant check.

General Manager of Best Buy, Bowie, Maryland, Mr. Jeff Jackson (center), presents a check to HSCC Student Member Nnedimma Ugochukwu (left of GM) and HSCC Program Director, Mr. Louis Shack (right of GM)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) congratulates BDPA Washington DC chapter president Perry Carter and his leadership team for their continued fundraising success as demonstrated by this Best Buy grant award!

Grant Declination: HCA Foundation (BDPA Middle Tennessee)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) sadly reports that our grant proposal submitted to the HCA Foundation on behalf of BDPA Middle Tennessee chapter has been declined. The declination letter read as follows:

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Dear Mr. Hicks,

Your grant proposal has recently been reviewed by Foundation staff. Following careful review, we have determined the request to be outside the stated guidelines and current funding priorities of the Foundation. As you can well imagine, the level of requests to support worthy projects and programs far exceed our available resources. Therefore, we are not able to provide funding as your request fails to meet one or more of the following criteria:

1. Relationship to HCA's Mission/Strategy
2. Critical Need in Our Community
3. Measurable Outcomes
4. History and Depth of Relationship with the Organization (Board Service or Significant Year-Round Volunteer Involvement)

Thank you for your interest in the Foundation. We wish you success with your endeavors.

Sincerely,
Lois Abrams
Grant Manager

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BETF and BDPA Middle Tennessee are both disappointed in this result. However, we feel strongly about the youth education programs taking place in the greater Nashville area. We will continue to aggressively pursue other funding sources in the coming weeks and months.

National STEM Video Game Challenge

BDPA trains hundreds of students each year in a variety of STEM-based topics. We had about 20 teams represented a few months ago at the 2011 National BDPA High School Computer Competition championships. With all of that talent ... it is time for us to get a little bit gangsta with STEM opportunities outside of the BDPA family.

For example, I would encourage all BDPA members (local, regional or national) to consider making a submission for the 2012 edition of the National STEM Video Game Challenge!   It is time for us to prove that people of African descent can do more than simply play video games ... it is time for us to show that we can also create video games.

This year, there are categories for Middle School (grades 5-8) and High School (grades 9-12) students in which participants can design games individually or in teams with a chance to win prizes like laptop computers and money for their schools or the nonprofit organization of their choice. [NOTE: Please ensure that your choice is the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF)!]

There are also categories for College (undergraduate and graduate) students and Professional Educators. These categories offer a variety of entry streams that encourage designers to create original learning games with an opportunity to win funds, research support, the opportunity to work with industry experts and publicity.

On the Challenge website, you'll find more information on how to enter, prizes, the complete official rules and great resources to help you get started in making your game. Just remember that the entry period closes on March 12, 2012.

If you have any questions about the Challenge, please do not hesitate to contact the folks who can answer by using their online contact form ... or by sending email to support@stemchallenge.org.

I know that we have BDPA members of all ages that have either played a video game, created a video game or THOUGHT ABOUT creating a video game. If so, I truly hope that you will step up and meet the National STEM Video Game Challenge!

Do Something Awards

Since 1996, Do Something has honored the nation's best young world-changers. Do Something Award Winners represent the pivotal "do-ers" in their field, cause, or issue and are rewarded with a huge project grant, participation in a special award ceremony, media coverage, and continued support from Do Something.

Did you recently create a sustainable community action project, program or organization or have a great idea for helping your community? Do you need $500 to further the growth and success of your program or turn your idea into reality? If you answered, "YES!", you are eligible to apply for a Do Something Grant.

Newsletter: BDPA Washington DC (Nov 2011)

Newsletter: BDPA Washington DC (Nov 2011)

View more documents from Wayne Hicks

Comcast Newsmakers: Perry Carter (BDPA Washington DC)

Perry Carter shares insights about BDPA with Comcast's Kellye Lynn.





This is an example of how we increase the 'BDPA' brand! Well done Perry!

BDPA iRadio Show - November 22, 2011

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is very proud to be the creator of the BDPA iRadio Show. Our Internet Radio Show has been up and running for over five months with over 60 guests. You can listen to the archive version of the show using the widget shown in the right-hand sidebar of this blog. In any case, we encourage you to listen to the show which aired on Tuesday, November 22, 2011.

Listen to internet radio with BDPA on Blog Talk Radio

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The guests on the show included:

1. Terris Poole - Lead Designer, Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH) - Terris Poole was a member of the 2000 and 2001 HSCC teams trained by BDPA Cincinnati chapter. His team in traveled to Washington DC where they earned the silver medal at the 2000 National HSCC Championships. Terris had a talent for graphic design while he was in high school. He followed his dreams during post-secondary studies at Pratt Institute. He is currently the Lead Designer for a major branding effort (ZAG Brand Invention) at BBH. Terris is moving from the ‘classroom to the boardroom’ and it will be great to hear how his experiences with BDPA may have influenced his college or career choices.



Dr. Parson

2. Dr. Stephanie Parson - President, Crowned Grace - Stephanie reported to the Walt Disney CIO when the 2002 national BDPA conference was hosted at Walt Disney World in Orlando. She served on the national BDPA board of directors in 2003-2005 as both in outside director and vice president (strategy & planning). She was founder of the BDPA Rocky Mountain chapter. She started her own company (Crowned Grace) in 2005. Her company provides leadership development training to managers and executives around the world. She can give great insights in a number of areas to our iRadio audience.

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There will be great discussions between our guests and Franne McNeal on the show. What questions would you like to ask these guests?