Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay Joins US2020 as Partner in New Pilot Mentoring Program

February 19, 2014 – Boston, MA – Today US2020, an initiative that emerged from a White House call for bold ideas to help meet the future workforce needs of STEM employers by equalizing access to STEM careers for underserved populations, announced its partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay. With over 800 boys on their waiting list looking for mentors, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay will expand its new Technology Club aimed at providing kids from the Massachusetts Bay area with more access to real world applications of math and science through connecting youth with mentors from US2020 founding corporate partners in the Boston-area.

STEM mentors from US2020 partners who participate in the program will be matched with kids between the ages of 7-12 in the local community at flexible times approximately twice a month. Additionally, the program will provide participants with optional events geared towards fostering interests in technology, including monthly competitions and access to free promotions from the Museum of Science.

“This collaboration with US2020 will give kids in The Technology Club program the opportunity to thrive in a relationship that will benefit them in all aspects of their lives” said Wendy Foster, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay. “It also gives our partners an opportunity to give back in a way that’s meaningful to them, connecting with kids who have similar interests. We’re so thankful for this opportunity to pilot the program with US2020”.

“We are excited to be working with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mass Bay to source STEM professionals for their Tech Clubs,” said Eric Schwarz, Executive Chairman of US2020. “We are committed to working with leading education practitioners across the country to strengthen programs engaging STEM professionals. We will continue to develop relationships that are mutually beneficial for kids and for adults in the short term, and in the long term, we believe these relationships will play an important role in creating an America that is more just and more economically competitive.”

US2020 aims to mobilize one million STEM mentors by 2020 by connecting high-quality education partners like Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay to STEM professionals nationwide. In addition to making STEM mentor matches between its education and corporate partners, the organization is currently executing its first City Competition to identify 3-5 cities to share in nearly $1 million of direct and in-kind support to build STEM mentoring capacity at the local level.

To learn more about BBBSMB and its Technology Club, please contact Beth Gillander, Community Engagement & Recruitment Manager, at 617.956.0211 or BGillander@bbbsmb.org. To learn more about US2020, please contact Brian O’Neil, Manager of Non Profit Partnerships, at 917.551.5903 or brianoneil@US2020.org.