A Rio Rancho nonprofit that creates STEM programs for underserved children was recently awarded a $5,000 grant.
R4 Creating received the grant from Sparklight, a national broadband communications provider, who awarded 29 nonprofits around the country through the company’s Charitable Giving Fund. The grants totaled more than $125,000 during the most recent award period.
R4 Creating hosts STEAM programs for kids ages 6-18, has a robotics team of over 40 kids and helps to provide internships for students for a career pipeline.
The Charitable Giving Fund, which annually awards nearly $250,000 in grants to local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations served by the Cable One family of brands (Sparklight, Fidelity Communications, Hargray, ValuNet Fiber and CableAmerica), concentrates support in the following priority areas:
- Education and Digital Literacy
- Food Insecurity
- Community Development
“R4 Creating is thrilled to receive this critical program support from Sparklight which helps ensure accessibility to award-winning STEM tools and learning,” said Dr. Shelly Gruenig, R4 Creating Founder and Executive Director. “This inaugural grant will make a difference in the lives of thousands of students and educators, sparking innovation and confidence to light the future of our state!”
Nonprofit organizations may apply for a grant during open application periods each spring and fall. Applications for spring 2024 grants will be accepted between April 1-30, 2024.
For more information about the Sparklight Charitable Giving Fund, please visit www.sparklight.com/charitablegiving.
To learn more about R4 Creating and the programs they offer, visit https://www.r4creating.org/
Sparklight is also accepting grant applications through March 12 from K-12 schools and organizations in communities throughout the 21 states Sparklight serves. New Mexico is one of those states.
Entries can be made at sparklight.com/contest by sending a photo and written summary outlining how the funds will be used for a technology project or group and how it will benefit students. Six winners will each receive a $2,500 donation.