Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: SparkShop
Legal Name (if Different): Science & Entrepreneurship Exchange
Also Known As: SparkShop
Mailing Address: 1623 W Fulton St
City: Chicago
State: Illinois
Postal Code: 60612
Main Phone: 202-494-0303
Main Fax:
Organization Website: https://www.sparkshop.org/
Employer ID Number: 462597736
Organization Tax Status: exempt 501(c)(3)

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 4/16/2024
Requested Amount: 10,000

Project Title: General Op
Project Description:

SparkShop’s mission is to inspire and mobilize the next generation of engineers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and manufacturing geniuses. To achieve this, we provide high-quality STEM programs for 4th and 5th grade students across Chicago that cultivate curiosity, collaboration, and STEM identity. Our elementary programming equips teachers with engineering curricula and kits to engage students through a hands-on learning approach. Because of the effectiveness and success of our program, we received feedback from teachers and school leaders to expand our offerings to ensure continual STEM learning for program alumni beyond the 5th grade.

As such, within the past year, we have expanded programming with our Middle School Design Challenge within our existing partnership schools and launched an inaugural paid summer internship program for high school students. To better support teachers, we also created an accredited training program to develop their confidence in teaching engineering in the classroom. We are proud of the success of our programs thus far and our ability to expand our offerings to meet the needs of our community and more deeply understand the long-term effects of our work.

Ultimately, our vision is to create a larger and more diverse population of young STEM talent. Since our inception in 2017, we have reached over 7,000 students, most of whom fall into one or multiple underrepresented demographics in the STEM workforce. Just over 53% of our students are female, 94% are people of color, and 86% come from low-income families.

Total Project Budget: 401500

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): SPARKSHOP CONTRIBUTORS LIST FOUNDATIONS: Farley Family Charitable Foundation – $400,000 Kovitz Care – $25,000 Jewish United Fund (Donor Advised Fund) – $20,000 Micron Foundation – $20,000 Helen Thom Edwards Charitable Trust – $20,000 Albert Pick Jr. – $10,000 Richard C. Caris Charitable Trust – $5,000 Epstein Community Foundation – $5,000 TMA Foundation – $5,000 Maureen & Paul Rubeli Foundation – $4,000 The Steven & Susan Cobin Family Foundation – $2,000 CORPORATIONS/ORGANIZATIONS: Comcast NBCUniversal- $30,000 AbbVie – $25,000 Illinois Tool Works – $20,000 Porsche Club of America, Chicago Chapter – $25,000 First Congregational Church of Western Springs – $5,000 Chicago Board of Exchange – $1,000 Mastercam – $1,000 Wintrust – $2,500 Trillium – $1,000 FEDERAL: Illinois Cook County – $100,000 GIVING TUESDAY CAMPAIGN + PRIVATE DONORS: We had a collective group of individuals donate during our 2023 Giving Tuesday Campaign, resulting in us surpassing $84,000 in donations and matching gifts from private donors. We keep private donor identities anonymous.

Project Duration: School Year 2023/24
Geographical Area Served: Metro Chicago (Austin Bridgeport Brighton Park Bronzeville Calumet Heights Englewood Fuller Park Greater Grand Crossing Hegewisch Hermosa Kenwood Lake View Lower West Side (Pilsen) Palmer Square Rogers Park South Shore Uptown West Pullman)
Age Group To Be Served: 9-11 yr olds/4th and 5th grade

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
Contact First Name: Shonali
Contact Last Name: Ditz
Contact Title: Executive Director
Contact Phone: 202-494-0303
Contact Email: giving@sparkshop.com