ROME — The UpMobility Foundation, a philanthropic organization based in Little Falls, New York, awarded a $30,000 grant to Rome’s Project Fibonacci® Foundation for its STEAM Cohort Scholarship Fund. The fund provides full or partial scholarships to young scholars wishing to attend the annual Project Fibonacci STEM plus Arts (STEAM) Youth Leadership Conference and is primarily aimed at defraying tuition costs for those experiencing financial hardships or who represent underserved or disadvantaged groups across the Mohawk Valley. Since 2016, the scholarship fund has provided financial assistance to nearly 500 young scholars.
Project Fibonacci® Foundation chairman Dr. Andrew Drozd stated, “I am extremely humbled and profoundly grateful for the generosity of the UpMobility Foundation. Their financial support will certainly go a long way in uplifting our local youth by enabling their pursuit of rewarding STEM careers, academic and vocational pathways, and cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset to inspire them to launch their own businesses in the Mohawk Valley; those otherwise unable to do so on their own because of socio-economic barriers will benefit the most.”
According to Drozd, the grant enables opportunities for the worlds of science, technology and art to “collide” by sparking students of diverse backgrounds, interests and skill sets to collaborate on solving a timely socio-technological challenge―from adapting to climate change to colonizing Mars to examining the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on future careers, including the proposal of ethical policies on the use of AI, among other topics. Drozd added that UpMobility’s mission aligns well with Project Fibonacci®’s overall goals.
STEAM scholars assemble at Rome Free Academy to formulate and pitch their project ideas at a Project Fibonacci® STEAM Fair open to the public. (Photo courtesy of the Project Fibonacci® Foundation, Inc.)
The UpMobility Foundation works to uplift people of all backgrounds and all places to help them achieve their full potential. The organization connects people by creating opportunities for collaboration and is dedicated to the notion of individual growth, strong families, and connected communities.
Founded by Silicon Valley entrepreneur and philanthropist Martin Babinec, the UpMobility Foundation is a testament to the values perpetuated by his late father, William “Bill” Babinec, the son of Slovak immigrants. Bill Babinec worked tirelessly to support his wife and seven children and despite his modest resources gave generously to the less fortunate as well as to organizations that promoted family values. A lifelong resident of Little Falls, Bill Babinec was active in his church in addition to being a member of an organization dedicated to community development, a role that he cherished well into his 80s.
Inspired by his father’s example, Martin Babinec became a catalyst for economic development in Upstate New York and beyond and continues to support causes that promote self-reliance, education, humanitarian aid and family values, among others. Martin Babinec was moved to establish the UpMobility Foundation as a way to cement his family’s commitment to the ideal that to whom much is given, much is expected. He started the UpMobility Foundation as a way to further his mission of developing opportunities for people to achieve their potential as well as build strong families and communities.
UpMobility’s vision is now benefiting STEAM scholars, encouraging them to live and work in Upstate New York.
Using the arts to grow the STEM workforce, STEAM leadership cohorts are taught to stress interactive multidisciplinary learning, teamwork, project-based collaboration, and creative brainstorming that inspires technological innovation aimed at guiding career paths, elevating self-confidence, and promoting personal growth and professional development and retaining investments in job creation in the Upstate NY / Mohawk Valley region. (Photo courtesy of the Project Fibonacci® Foundation, Inc.)
Students pitch ideas on sustainability at the Project Fibonacci® STEAM Fair. (Photo courtesy of the Project Fibonacci® Foundation, Inc.)
For more information on the UpMobility Foundation, visit www.upmobility.org/ or email at info@upmobility.org, and to learn more about the Project Fibonacci® Foundation’s STEAM programs, go to www.projectfibonacci.org or email at info@projectfibonacci.org.
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