Thanks to $225,000 in grant funding from Foundation 214, The Foundry will be able to sustain and expand its after-school STEAM programming for middle schools in Buffalo Charter and Public School District. This is great news, especially considering where The Foundry is located – in the heart of the East Side. The funding will allow The Foundry to keep the expanded program running over the course of the next three years.
The after-school program offerings at The Foundry include arts, design, and technology educational experience. By offering instruction in STEAM-centered fields of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics, students are able to acquire life-long skills that will help them to enter into the workforce.
Executive Director, Chris Alfiero stated, “Foundation 214 is proud to support our youngest generation in pursuing their goals in the fields of science, mathematics, and engineering. Early introduction to these disciplines will invigorate young minds to properly chart their individual courses and steer them to their successes. And their successes will in turn, benefit us all.”
“Receiving multi-year support from Foundation 214 will ensure The Foundry can increase its impact for afterschool youth in Buffalo schools,” said Megan McNally, executive director of The Foundry. “Through our work at area schools, students enhance their design, mathematics, digital literacy, and problem-solving skills in a hands-on, fun after-school environment. Most importantly, students will be aware of the vast array of careers in STEAM/STEM and inspire students to seek out additional opportunities in these fields.”
Currently, The Foundry hosts four days of afterschool programming for 5-8th grade students at Buffalo Public School 89 Dr. Lydia T Wright School of Excellence and Buffalo Collegiate Charter School, with plans to expand this programming to five days a week. Students have been working on their own designs of futuristic cities, to be on display at Buffalo’s Juneteenth Festival on Saturday, June 17.
The Foundry is a makerspace located at 298 Northampton Street, Buffalo, NY 14208 | 716-885-1381
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