Boys and Girls Club STEM Program Benefits from $5K Donation

Maui Electric supports Boys and Girls Club of Maui’s STEM program with $5,000 donation

Maui Electric Company presented the Boys and Girls Club of Maui with a $5,000 donation to help expand their “Advancing STEM” program.

This STEM or Science, Technology, Engineering and Math education program provides middle school Boys and Girls Club members the opportunity for hands-on robotics learning.

“We are very grateful for this funding from Maui Electric and the Hawaiian Electric Industries Charitable Foundation and are very excited to start our Advance STEM Robotics program,” said Kelly Pearson, CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Maui.

“This generous gift will enable our young club members to develop important 21st century skill sets that will have them thinking about a future in which they can have meaningful and financially advantageous employment. We thank Maui Electric for being a great partner in supporting BGCM for many years,” said Pearson.

The funds are donated from Maui Electric’s Hawaiian Electric Industries Charitable Foundation and will help the Boys and Girls Clubs of Maui host a local robotics competition and purchase more Lego Mindstorms kits, which provide necessary equipment for robotics programs.

“For 95 years Maui Electric has been committed to serving our community and we are proud to support the Boys and Girls Club of Maui for their continued efforts in providing opportunities to our island’s youth,” said Sharon Suzuki, president of Maui Electric.

“More than an after school hangout, the club is creating an exciting way to introduce students to science, technology, engineering and math to students at an early age, and we hope they’re encouraged to hone in on these subjects over the years and pursue STEM related careers,” said Suzuki.

Boys & Girls Club’s core goal is to create a safe place for youth to learn and grow, establish ongoing relationships with caring, adult professionals, and provide life-enhancing programs and character development experiences.

With six Clubhouses across Maui, they have 2,400 members and serve over 7,000 youth annually through community outreach programs. The proposed expansion of the Advancing STEM program is expected to involve a minimum of 50 youth who are members of one of the five major Club sites.