DIGI-BRIDGE ANNOUNCES $50,000 GIFT FROM ORTHOCAROLINA FOUNDATION

Digi-Bridge is pleased to announce a $50,000 gift from OrthoCarolina Foundation in support of Digi-Bridge’s Full STEAM Ahead programming at Ashley Park PreK-8 in 2016-17.

The OrthoCarolina Foundation gift will allow Digi-Bridge to launch an innovative pilot STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) education program at Ashley Park, a federally designated Title I elementary school serving more students in poverty than any other in the district.

“We are so pleased OrthoCarolina is committed to investing in schools like Ashley Park,” said Digi-Bridge Founder David Jessup Jr. “OrthoCarolina is a trusted community leader whose commitment will accelerate the pace at which Ashley Park students advance academically and socially.”

Digi-Bridge’s Full STEAM Ahead is a yearlong initiative that will increase the number of students served through #STEAMSaturdays, its signature science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics courses, while simultaneously testing new, STEAM-centric approaches to teaching and learning.

Under the leadership of Ashley Park Principal Meaghan Loftus, the school continues to show tremendous gains across all disciplines.

“The provision of opportunity for our scholars who are performing at or above grade-level is a next critical step in our work,” Loftus said. “These scholars can be short-changed in attention and resource, so opportunities like #STEAMSaturdays for eighth grade scientists is critical to the individual and collective success of Ashley Park.”

Full STEAM Ahead, fueled by OrthoCarolina, will allow Digi-Bridge provide 100 Ashley Park PreK-8 scholars with #STEAMSaturdays learning modules, as well as launch a pilot cohort model for a group of eighth graders and provide professional development to select faculty and staff.

“OrthoCarolina is committed to funding educational initiatives and partnering with organizations improving and empowering the infrastructure of the region,” said Blair Primis, vice president of marketing, OrthoCarolina. “A collective approach to providing access and opportunity for Ashley Park students will undoubtedly yield an impressive return.”

Nonprofit organization Digi-Bridge was founded in 2014 with the audacious vision of bridging the technology gap for underserved students and their teachers to ensure students have the skills to succeed in the digital age.

“Digi-Bridge is committed to providing the highest quality enrichment experiences to the K-8 scholars we serve,” Jessup said. “We identified Saturday mornings as a time when programming would be supported, and as a result, we launched our #STEAMSaturdays pilot project in 2015. #STEAMSaturdays offerings have grown rapidly and become the focal point of our efforts due to strong community interest in K-8 computer science education and 21st century skill acquisition.”

Expanding from five locations in its initial year of programming, Digi-Bridge will offer #STEAMSaturdays programming in nine locations in 2016-2017, including cohorts at Allenbrook Elementary, Ashley Park PreK-8, C3 Lab, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, MAX! and Renaissance West Community Initiative.

“Digi-Bridge is grateful for the visionary leadership of community partners such as OrthoCarolina in support of teachers and students,” Jessup said. “Together, we will #bridgethedivide at Ashley Park PreK-8.”

Program inquiries can be directed to David Jessup at david@digi-bridge.org.

Media inquiries can be directed to Corri Smith at corri@blackwednesday.social.