NBC4 Southern California, Telemundo 52 Los Angeles and the NBCUniversal Foundation today announced that six local non-profit organizations will receive a total of $225,000 in grants as part of the first annual Project Innovation grant challenge. The winning organizations were selected by the stations for their outstanding programs that leverage technology to solve everyday problems in the areas of civic engagement, skills for the digital economy and STEM/STEAM youth programming.
NBC and Telemundo owned stations located in 11 markets, including Los Angeles, launched the new grant challenge in January 2018 to identify local organizations that embrace technology and innovation to develop real-life solutions for their communities.
Local Project Innovation 2018 grant recipients include:
Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation - $50,000 - The Work-based Learning and Training Program serves high school youth throughout LA County and provides hands-on experiences in STEM-education through strong business partnerships with an emphasis in the tech and healthcare/biotech industries.
InnerCity Struggle - $50,000 - The Relay Program engages East Los Angeles youth in civic engagement through technology strategies including peer-to-peer text messaging and social media. The communication techniques aim to educate and mobilize Latino millennials to increase voter participation on the Eastside.
Las Fotos Project - $35,000 - The Hire Her Program trains and employs girls ages 15-18 in East Los Angeles in the fields of photography and digital careers. Youth participants are also educated about financial literacy, marketing, managing a small business and more.
Working Wardrobes for a New Start - $35,000 - The Veterans Technology Training Program provides IT training and certification for veterans throughout Orange County in six core technology competencies.
Two Bit Circus - $30,000 - The STEAM Lab program promotes innovation through project-based learning and exploration in the classroom at Title 1 elementary schools located in LA County, while also utilizing recycled materials and manufacturers’ over-runs for hands-on learning.
P.F. Bresee Foundation - $25,000 - The after-school Teen Technology Center in Los Angeles provides youth with access to a variety of technology including cameras, video cameras, green screens, sound booth and recording equipment and video and sound editing software.
Project Innovation is presented by the NBCUniversal Foundation and NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations, a division of NBCUniversal. This year, more than $2.4 million will be awarded to nonprofit organizations all across the country that are doing their part to transform communities by providing solutions through tech-based approaches.
Winners were selected in the following three categories: Igniting Civic Engagement, Skills for the Digital Economy, STEM/STEAM Youth Programming.
