Business
Akamai Foundation Announces 2020 Global STEM Education Grants
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The Akamai Foundation is dedicated to encouraging the next generation of technology innovators by supporting STEM education in underserved communities, with a focus on the pursuit of excellence in mathematics in grades K-12.
The 2020 STEM grant recipients support communities in Atlanta; greater Boston; Costa Rica; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; India; New York; Poland; Reston, Virginia and the San Francisco Bay area.
“During these difficult times, our commitment to STEM education is unwavering, and we will continue to focus on addressing the digital divide and digital inclusion within education so our global youth can remain inspired, hopeful and connected,” commented Anthony Williams, president, Akamai Foundation and executive vice president and chief human resources officer, Akamai Technologies.
In addition to STEM grants, the Akamai Foundation provides disaster relief and humanitarian aid globally and supports volunteerism by connecting employees to the communities in which Akamai operates. Two new programs were undertaken by the Foundation in 2020. In May, the Foundation launched a $1.1 million multi-tiered, multi-phased global community response to COVID-19. In August, the Akamai board of directors approved an additional $20 million contribution to the Akamai Foundation. This amount was granted with a specific aim of supporting initiatives that increase diversity in the technology industry.
“Our nonprofit grantees have shown extraordinary resilience and compassion as they are forced to adjust to a new way of learning and teaching,” said Kara DiGiacomo, executive director, Akamai Foundation. “They have reimagined educational outreach and stepped up in unprecedented ways to deliver resources in a time of uncertainty. We are proud to be able to support these efforts.”
