Traditional STEM education grants expanded beyond K-12 to include "Empower" grants for college, technology career pathways and entrepreneurship

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Nov. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Akamai Foundation, a charitable fund endowed by Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM), the cloud company that powers and protects life online, today announces recipients of the Akamai Foundation 2022 global STEM education grants.

The Akamai Foundation is dedicated to encouraging the next generation of technology innovators by supporting STEM education, with a focus on the pursuit of excellence in mathematics and diversifying the technology ecosystem. Grants focus on equal access to quality STEM education with supporting programs designed to attract more diversity to the technology industry.

In addition to early learner K-12 STEM grants, the Foundation piloted a new grant program called "Empower." The Empower grant program is an invite-only program that is offered for the first time this year. The program broadens the Foundation's giving to create more diverse talent in the technology industry by supporting later stages of the talent pipeline such as underrepresented populations in college, technology career pathways and entrepreneurship. Empower grants are higher threshold grants ranging from $25 - $100,000 and above, with $1 million awarded in this first cycle. 

The Akamai Foundation commenced funding post graduate initiatives early this year with the Associate to Master's degree Pathway for Technology ("A2M4Tech") program. This innovative and affordable pathway to the technology sector is for learners who begin their undergraduate education in community college. The development and startup of the program is run by Northeastern University through a $750,000 grant from the Akamai Foundation. The program addresses institutional barriers that have long slowed progress in achieving equity in computer science. It combines academic study and work by providing full-time employment opportunities for students while they pursue their degrees.

The 2022 early learner K-12 STEM grants and Empower grants total $2 million.

"The Akamai Foundation is pleased to expand its grant program this year - meeting recipients precisely where their needs are. In addition to our grants for programming grades K-12 globally, we are providing support to programs that focus on diversifying tech talent via programs in higher education, college, careers pathways and entrepreneurship," said Kara DiGiacomo, executive director, Akamai Foundation.

The Akamai Foundation looks forward to partnering with the following Empower grant program impact leaders:

Code2040, National (US)FFWD, National (US)Hack the Hood, CaliforniaInterise, Inc., National (US)Massachusetts Institute of Technology, GlobalNPower Inc., National (US)Per Scholas Inc., MassachusettsResilient Coders, MassachusettsThe Hidden Genius Project, National (US)UNCF (United Negro College Fund), National (US)

The Akamai Foundation looks forward to partnering with the following K-12 grant programs and build upon community relationships where Akamai employees live and work: 

Costa RicaRocket GirlsFunda Vida Foundation

IndiaAkshara Foundation

PolandEducation for the Future Foundation Foundation for the Development of Mathematical EducationChildren's University in the Classroom  FoundationKatalyst Education FoundationMamo Pracuj FoundationSarigato Foundation

United StatesGirls Who Code, NationalChickTech, NationalHack Foundation, National

Genesys Works, CaliforniaHidden Genius Project, CaliforniaStreetcode Academy, CaliforniaCodeart Inc, FloridaNAF Mega Student Industry Conference, FloridaIT Women Foundation, Inc., FloridaFlorida Conference of SDA, FloridaProject Lift, Inc, FloridaGirls Incorporated of Greater Atlanta, GeorgiaLearn Fresh Education Co., GeorgiaSteamsport Inc., GeorgiaBmore Empowered, Inc., MarylandBoys and Girls Club of Boston, Inc., MassachusettsBoys and Girls Club of Dorchester, Inc., MassachusettsBoys and Girls Club of Metrowest, Inc., MassachusettsBreakthrough Greater Boston, Inc., MassachusettsBrookview House, Inc., MassachusettsCalculus Project, MassachusettsFor Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), MassachusettsInnovators for Purpose, MassachusettsJr. Tech, MassachusettsKids In Tech, MassachusettsLatino STEM Alliance, MassachusettsMassachusetts Institute of Technology, MassachusettsMass Insight Education and Research Institute Inc., MassachusettsProspect Hill Academy Charter School Foundation Inc., MassachusettsScience and Engineering Education Development (SEED), MassachusettsScience Club for Girls, Inc., MassachusettsScience from Scientists, Inc., MassachusettsThe Young People's Project Inc. MassachusettsSTEM from Dance, New YorkTech Kids Unlimited, New YorkCanary Academy Online, Inc, VirginiaCenter for Excellence in Education, VirginiaCornerstones, Inc, VirginiaMathematical Association of America Incorporated, Washington, DCSociety for Science and the Public, Washington, DC

The 2023 grant proposal submission window will open in the first quarter of 2023. Important dates and guidelines for grant proposal submissions will be communicated through the Akamai Foundation'swebsite later this year.

The Akamai Foundation is a private corporate foundation dedicated to equal access to STEM education with an emphasis on digital equity and inclusion and excellence in mathematics.

The Akamai Foundation serves as a catalyst for change and is dedicated to encouraging the next generation of technology innovators by supporting STEM education, with a focus on the pursuit of excellence in mathematics in grades K-12 while exploring additional impact opportunities to diversify the technology talent pipeline. The Foundation's reach is global through direct grants to locally-registered charities and global non-government organizations that emphasize assisting under-represented groups within today's technology workforce.

For more information, view the 2021 Foundation Annual Report.

Akamai powers and protects life online. Leading companies worldwide choose Akamai to build, deliver, and secure their digital experiences — helping billions of people live, work, and play every day. With the world's most distributed compute platform — from cloud to edge — we make it easy for customers to develop and run applications, while we keep experiences closer to users and threats farther away. Learn more about Akamai's security, compute, and delivery solutions at akamai.com and akamai.com/blog, or follow Akamai Technologies on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Media ContactGina Sorice(646) 320-4107gsorice@akamai.com

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SOURCE Akamai Technologies, Inc.