Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Time Warner Cable Partner to Spark Youth Interest in STEM

ATLANTA and NEW YORK – Time Warner Cable (TWC) and Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA)  announced details of a new partnership designed to help address America’s declining proficiency in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). TWC, as part of its Connect a Million Minds (CAMM) initiative, will provide $500,000 in cash and in-kind support to help BGCA engage and inspire youth around the country to become interested in STEM subjects.

The partnership was initially announced by professional football player and Boys & Girls Club alumnus Victor Cruz and Food Network Chef Anne Burrell at CAMM Day, which was held on February 1, 2014 at TWC Studios in New York City.

“We are proud to partner with TWC on this exciting STEM program for our members,” said BGCA President and CEO Jim Clark. “BGCA is committed to preparing globally competitive graduates for successful 21st century careers, and this new program will enable Club kids to unearth STEM concepts through fun, hands-on activities and explore the jobs of tomorrow.”

“Time Warner Cable believes in getting kids excited about STEM because having the next generation skilled in these areas is critical for our country’s continued success,” said Rob Marcus, Chairman and CEO of Time Warner Cable. “We are very proud to partner with BGCA and support a new program that will help their members reach their potential by becoming inspired by the world of STEM.”

The $500,000 in support from TWC will enable BGCA to launch a new Do-It-Yourself (DIY) STEM program for Boys & Girls Clubs around the country. Available for all Clubs this summer, the DIY STEM program curriculum will engage Club youth ages 10 to 18 in a different strand of STEM—from robotics to electrodynamic propulsion—each week. Aligning to the Common Core State Standards Initiative, the project-based STEM activities will provide opportunities for critical thinking and peer exchange.

Additionally, TWC will provide grants to 10 Boys & Girls Clubs in the New York City and New Jersey area to run the DIY STEM program and host a culminating DIY Family night where family members, Club staff and other supporters can see the kids’ STEM project presentations. Participating Clubs are:

• Boys & Girls Club of Harlem – Frederick Douglass Academy Clubhouse
• Boys & Girls Club of Harlem – M.L. Wilson Clubhouse
• Boys & Girls Club of Metro Queens
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Mount Vernon – Sixth Avenue Unit
• Boys & Girls Club of Paterson & Passaic – 21st Avenue Unit
• The Children’s Aid Society – Dunlevy Milbank Boys & Girls Club
• The Children’s Aid Society – East Harlem Boys & Girls Club
• The Children’s Aid Society – Frederick Douglass Boys & Girls Club
• Madison Square Boys & Girls Club – Navy Yard Clubhouse
• Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens

CAMM Day at TWC Studios enabled young people to participate in fun, hands-on activities that demonstrated the science behind popular TV shows and networks. Approximately 300 students from local Boys & Girls Clubs– including Boys & Girls Club of Paterson & Passaic where Cruz was a member– learned how STEM subjects power the activities of interest to them, such as sports, music and cooking. Visit http://bit.ly/1bNHLEG to view photos from CAMM Day that preceded the Super Bowl. 

CAMM is TWC’s five-year philanthropic initiative to address America’s declining proficiency in STEM. Launched in conjunction with President Obama’s “Educate to Innovate” campaign, CAMM inspires students to develop the STEM skills needed to become the problem solvers of tomorrow. For more information about CAMM, visit www.connectamillionminds.com.

Research shows that out-of-school programs, like those offered at Boys & Girls Clubs, are effective in stimulating interested in STEM-related careers. Since 2008, more than 850,000 kids have engaged in STEM activities at Boys & Girls Clubs across the country. To learn more about STEM programs and opportunities at Boys & Girls Clubs, visit www.GreatFutures.org. 

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (GreatFutures.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, more than 4,000 Clubs serve nearly 4 million young people annually through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native  lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun, friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Priority programs emphasize academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 57 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at http://www.bgca.org/facebook and http://bgca.org/twitter.

About Time Warner Cable
Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC) is among the largest providers of video, high-speed data and voice services in the United States, connecting 15 million customers to entertainment, information and each other. Time Warner Cable Business Class offers data, video and voice services to businesses of all sizes, cell tower backhaul services to wireless carriers and enterprise-class, cloud-enabled hosting, managed applications and services.  Time Warner Cable Media, the advertising arm of Time Warner Cable, offers national, regional and local companies innovative advertising solutions. More information about the services of Time Warner Cable is available at www.twc.com, www.twcbc.com and www.twcmedia.com.