Cisco Foundation Sponsors Children’s Science Center Lab

FAIRFAX, Va. - Aug. 5, 2015 - PRLog -- Nene Spivy, executive director of the Children’s Science Center, announced today that the Cisco Foundation awarded a $25,000 sponsorship to the Children’ Science Center for its first operating facility, the Lab, and to launch a new program titled “Discovery Days at the Lab.”

“Discovery Days at the Lab” will bring students from 11 Title I schools to the Children’s Science Center Lab for subsidized field trips beginning in the fall of 2015. With this sponsorship, over 1,700 Title I elementary-aged students from Northern Virginia will visit the Lab in a full-funded field trip for a hands-on learning experience of science, technology, engineering, and math.  This contribution covers the cost of Lab admissions and field trip busing for approximately 150 students from each of the 11 schools. This is the second gift from the Cisco Foundation to the Children’s Science Center and it is with their leadership gifts that the Center is committed to serving a high percentage of at-risk student populations with our programs and services.  The Children’s Science Center now has the opportunity to serve these students at its first operating facility, the Lab, at Fair Oaks Mall.

Rob Riegle, senior manager, systems engineering sales at Cisco Federal says, “Amazing things happen when people connect. Together, we multiply the impact of individual efforts to transform lives and build communities for the betterment of society. Cisco is very proud to partner with the Children’s Science Center to help explore, create, and inspire the next generation of STEM activities.”

The 5,400 sq. ft. Lab at Fair Oaks Mall is the region’s first interactive museum where families and school groups can explore STEM concepts through hands-on activities. The site’s programming areas include: Inspiration Hub, Tinker Shop, Experiment Bar, Discovery Zone and a multipurpose space nicknamed the Garage.

“The Children’s Science Center is thrilled to deepen our relationship with the Cisco Foundation as we open our first physical site this summer at the Lab and launch this important program as part of our outreach to Title I students,” said Spivy. “We appreciate Cisco’s ongoing leadership and commitment to STEM education in Northern Virginia.”

About the Children’s Science Center:

The Children’s Science Center’s mission is to instill a love of learning science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in all children by providing unique opportunities to explore, create and be inspired.  The Children’s Science Center Lab is located at Fair Oaks Mall and is Northern Virginia’s first interactive museum where children, families and school groups can explore STEM concepts through fun, engaging hands-on exhibits, activities and programs. In addition to the Lab and community programs across the region, the Center is working to fulfill the vision of a full-scale, world-class children’s science museum to be located in Dulles, Va. The Children’s Science Center is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. Learn more at www.childsci.org.