The Project Fibonacci Foundation is once again raising a glass — and raising awareness — with its signature fundraising event, Tap Into STEAM, set for Sept. 15 at Copper City Brewing Company in Rome from 6:00-9:00pm. Now in its fourth year, the event serves as an energetic kickoff for Mohawk Valley Gives, the region’s largest day of giving, happening Sept. 19.
This year’s fundraiser features a custom-brewed beer called The Golden Ratio, created by Copper City Brewing exclusively for the event, along with performances from The Mighty Craic, New Horizons Barbershop Chorus and Full Circle Quartet.
Attendees can also connect with other Mohawk Valley Gives participating nonprofits, including the Mohawk Valley Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, Mohawk Valley Bluegrass Association, Rome Art and Community Center, On Point for College, Whitney’s Legacy, SUNY Poly Foundation and the Rome Capitol Theatre.
A celebration with purpose
Tap Into STEAM blends community fun with serious impact. Presented by the Project Fibonacci Foundation, proceeds from the event are shared with participating nonprofits as a kickstart to their Mohawk Valley Gives fundraising campaign. The Project Fibonacci Foundation continues to be a pillar in the community, working year-round to strengthen the local workforce and economy through its STEM plus Arts (STEAM) programs that emphasize leadership education, critical thinking, innovation, entrepreneurship and mentorship, while collaborating with other local nonprofits that share the same vision. Donations help to replenish the Project Fibonacci Foundation’s scholarship fund used to help underwrite attendance for disadvantaged students at the Foundation’s annual STEAM Leadership Conference and youth-focused programs that in turn draw on local talent for event staffing, technical support and associated logistics costs.
“Mohawk Valley Gives is a ‘win-win concept,’” said Andrew Drozd, founder and chair of the Project Fibonacci Foundation. “It gives anyone access to all the participating nonprofits, lets them learn what they do and makes it easy to donate. Through the giving day, we can raise in a single day what might otherwise take us many months.”
The Why
The Project Fibonacci Foundation is very much community-minded, always seeking to enhance local economic revitalization through every aspect of STEM and the arts including performing arts, history and culture. The community — like many across the nation — is facing a critical talent gap in STEM careers. Yet the shortage isn’t just about science or engineering skills. Employers consistently report that young people need a boost in creativity, adaptability, critical thinking and leadership — the very abilities that drive innovation in the 21st-century workforce. Meanwhile, the local economy is still in the process of rebuilding and vulnerable to outside economic forces. Many bright young minds leave the region in search of opportunity, while those who remain often struggle to find a path to meaningful careers. Without targeted, high-impact programs that create new opportunities, the area risks losing the next generation of innovators, leaders and problem-solvers who could fuel economic revitalization here in the Mohawk Valley.
Fundamentally, the Project Fibonacci Foundation bridges the gap between STEM and the Arts. By integrating the arts into STEM education, PFF expands opportunities, ignites curiosity, fosters creativity and teaches the kind of flexible and outside-the-box thinking today’s economy demands. Through immersive conferences, interactive workshops and mentorship opportunities, they help youth develop critical thinking skills, learn collaboration and improve communication, and discover rewarding careers in STEM and other fields. A better prepared youth workforce that grows organically in the region will translate into economic success for everyone. Tap Into STEAM celebrates that very notion in conjunction with the missions and visions of several like-minded nonprofit partners.
Imagine a Mohawk Valley where the next breakthrough in clean energy, biomedical engineering or artificial intelligence comes from a young person who once sat in a Project Fibonacci workshop — and chose to stay here because PFF gave them the opportunity and they saw the possibilities.
Powered by generosity
Mohawk Valley Gives, hosted by the Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties and co-hosted by the UpMobility Foundation, has grown dramatically since its launch in 2022. Last year, the campaign raised a record $5 million for more than 325 nonprofits in just 24 hours.
“Our community is so generous, and Mohawk Valley Gives proves that year after year,” said Kayla Ellis, the Community Foundation’s director of marketing and communications. “This event levels the playing field for nonprofits of all sizes, giving smaller organizations the same opportunity to fundraise as larger ones.”
The Foundation offers year-round support to participating nonprofits, including free training sessions, a nonprofit toolkit with ready-to-use marketing materials, and networking opportunities. “We want to make sure organizations have everything they need to succeed,” Ellis added. “And all the money raised goes directly to them—none of it stays with us.”
How to join the movement
For community members, Tap Into STEAM offers a chance to enjoy an evening of music, craft beer and camaraderie while supporting multiple causes. For those who can’t attend, donations can be made online during Mohawk Valley Gives on Sept. 19 at https://givemv.org.
“The more people who know about Mohawk Valley Gives, the bigger the impact,” said Ellis. “Whether you give, attend an event or just share the message, you’re helping hundreds of nonprofits that keep our community thriving.”
The Project Fibonacci Foundation has set a goal of raising at least $25,000 at the Tap Into STEAM evening event on Sept. 15 and a broader goal of raising $100,000 during the full MVG campaign culminating on Giving Day, Sept. 19. The portion raised for the Project Fibonacci Foundation will not only go to support their scholarship fund but also reinvested back into the local economy through the purchase of community-based goods and services. Again, a win-win for everyone involved.
A portion of the proceeds raised is also donated to food insecurity programs sponsored through Sacred Heart Parish/St. John the Baptist Church of Rome in cooperation with the Food Bank of CNY. The goal is to ensure nutritional foods are provided that highlight the science and art of foods and food preparation.
Let’s help them achieve their goals!
Tickets to Tap into STEAM are $20 and can be bought at https://projectfibonacci.org/wp/4th-annual-tap-into-steam/. For more information on Project Fibonacci Foundation, visit https://projectfibonacci.org.
This is a paid post written by the Daily Sentinel’s branded content team for the Project Fibonacci Foundation.
