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 united way of massachusetts bay and merrimack valley
September 15, 2006

MIT President Susan Hockfield headlines event celebrating United Way’s Math, Science &Technology initiative

BOSTON -- MIT President Susan Hockfield, Cambridge Mayor Kenneth Reeves and top executives at Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research and New England Healthcare Institute joined United Way of Massachusetts Bay today to celebrate a partnership that is bringing hands-on learning in the sciences to young people at after-school programs.

MSTi 2006 Event United Way President and CEO Milton J. Little, Jr. joins students offering mini-science demonstrations at the Dream in Science event.

To date, the life sciences and supporting industries have raised more than $1.25 million for United Way ’s Math, Science & Technology initiative (MSTi), a partnership to foster a lifelong curiosity in the sciences and prepare young people for rewarding careers in math, science and technology-related fields. Funds have supported the project at after-school program sites in Cambridge , Chelsea , Somerville , Boston , Lynn , Quincy , Randolph and Weymouth . Founding sponsors of MSTi are Alexandria Real Estate Equities, EPIX, Houghton Mifflin and W.R. Grace & Co.

The Math, Science, & Technology initiative was launched as a pilot effort in 2004 at three after-school sites serving 50 youth in grades 3-7 in Cambridge and Somerville . In January, 2005, it grew to serve more than 300 kids at 25 sites across Eastern Massachusetts . Program evaluations from the pilot phase show:

  • The percent of students liking science grew from 65% to 76%; and
  • The percent of students that saw science as important in everyday life grew from 36% to 77%.

The curriculum was developed in partnership with TERC, a Cambridge based, nationally renowned leader in science and math education. The after-school curriculum includes scientific experimentation and demonstrations, while emphasizing hands-on learning. It's combined with off-site visits, interaction with industry professionals, and career exploration into science-related industries.

Over the next year, United Way hopes to expand the base of program support, implement a new curriculum in the biology of nutrition and develop a strong core of volunteers from the scientific, technology and business communities. United Way’s goal is to develop a state-wide model that includes curriculum and materials, staff training, funding support for each program, and a guide for communities that will assist them in getting programs of their own up and running.

“We are excited by what these students have been able to accomplish, and we look forward to continuing and expanding this effort,” said Milton J. Little, Jr., president and chief executive of United Way of Massachusetts Bay . “But most of all, we look forward to watching these young people graduate from a college or university with a science-related degree in hand and hope for a great future.”

United Way media contact
Brigid Boyd
Director of Communications
(617) 624-8252
bboyd@uwmb.org
Meghan Keaney
Communications Manager
(617) 624-8261
mkeaney@uwmb.org