Tag: STEM

Chiefs S Justin Reid makes donation to Kansas City Public Schools STEM, Robotics programs

#Chiefs S Justin Reid made a significant contribution to the education of teens in the Kansas City area on Monday. | from @TheJohnDillon

Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid cemented himself as a key part of his team’s defense last season and is proving to be an equally crucial member of the community after making a significant donation to a local school on Monday.

Reid’s foundation, JReid Indeed, invested significantly in the STEM and engineering departments at Kansas City Public Schools, donating $15,000 to their robotics team as part of an outreach effort. A Standford graduate, Reid is known to be a firm believer in the value of education and seems poised to inspire a new generation of thinkers with this latest good deed in the Kansas City area.

“Technology is the game changer for our students to succeed,” Reid said in a statement, via KSHB. “Everyday technology is changing the future and it is changing how we live. I want to give children who look like me a fighting chance to have a better education, and to compete in life. That’s my ultimate goal.”

During his appearance at KC Central High School, Reid posed for pictures with the promotional check provided by his foundation and members of the robotics team who stand to benefit greatly from this kind gesture. The mission of his foundation is as follows:

 JReid InDeed is a charitable organization founded by Justin Reid that focuses on equipping and funding disadvantaged youth and communities through interactive programs, community engagement, and technology access. The foundation focuses on children in underserved communities of Houston, Baton Rouge, and Kansas City. 

Heading into his second year with the Chiefs in 2023, Reid is sure to become a fan-favorite in Kansas City’s secondary as he further ingrains himself both in his community and on the gridiron.

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Chiefs TE Travis Kelce to create STEM learning space for underserved teens

Kelce’s first purchase after his $57 million contract extension? A learning space to help teens in Kansas City advance careers in STEM.

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Chiefs TE Travis Kelce committed four more years to Kansas City, officially signing a contract extension with the team on Friday.

Kelce’s commitment wasn’t just to play football but to continue to be a positive force in the Kansas City community. Shortly after Kelce’s deal became official he announced his intentions to, in coordination with a local charity organization, Operation Breakthrough, purchase a building to convert into a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) co-working space for underserved teenagers.

Here is what Kelce wrote in a letter penned to Kansas City:

“Six more years, baby. I couldn’t begin to tell you how much this city means to me. You took me in seven years ago and made all my dreams come true! I can’t wait to give you another six years of everything I got when I take the field with my brothers.

But I’m also recommitting myself to the work I have left to do on the field. The amazing kids I’ve seen grow up the last seven years in the inner-city of KC are now teenagers navigating a world that doesn’t always have their back.

The vision is to give these teens in KC’s underserved neighborhoods a safe haven. A place where they’re exposed to interests and role models far beyond the field or court. Kids can’t concentrate if they don’t feel safe. They can’t envision a career they’ve never heard of or learn a skill they’ve never been taught.

So together with Operation Breakthrough, we’re going to create this place.

I am excited to announce I am purchasing the building that will be the future home of the “Ignition Lab: Powered by 87&Running” — a co-working space where these teens will have the support, resources, and opportunity to explore the careers in STEM, launch their own entrepreneurial ventures and gain real-world experience.

As a kid I was mindful of how life looked different for everyone, but as a man I am profoundly aware of the difference in opportunity, exposure, and privilege I grew up with compared to others. Where you live, the situation you were born into or the color of your skin should have no impact on the dreams you can dream. And it’s a beautiful thing when a kid’s dream comes true.”

Kelce and his charity organization 87 & Running have long been proponents of STEM in the Kansas City community. Kelce previously was named the NFLPA Community MVP for Week 2 during the 2018 season after opening up a robotics lab for the underserved youth in Kansas City.

This project seems to take things a step further from the robotics lab, helping teenage youth explore and advance careers in STEM. At the end of the day, the intentions are clear that Kelce hopes to help make dreams come true. It’s just one more reason to be happy about the extension that will keep Kelce in Kansas City for the next six seasons.

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