In celebration of International Women’s Day, AV Gives has today launched its 2023 fundraising campaign and networking initiatives in support of Rosie Riveters, a non-profit organisation that “empowers young girls by building personal confidence, critical thinking and problem-solving skills through hands-on, community-based STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) programmes”.
AV Gives’ 2023 goals have been set out to engage and inspire girls through STEM projects while showcasing the professional AV industry as a rewarding career path. Co-founders and AV industry professionals Erica Carroll and Jennifer Goodyer last year partnered with the AVIXA Women’s Council and Brittany Greer, executive director and founder of Rosie Riveters, to raise money and support STEM programs for Rosie Riveters through the AV industry.
“We quickly surpassed an initial 2022 fundraising goal of providing $5000 for STEM kits,” said Carroll, also senior manager, product training and adoption for Mersive. “We were soon challenged to set a more aggressive goal of $30,000, and in the end raised nearly $35,000. We have challenged ourselves this year to meet an initial $30,000 goal and have established a stretch goal of $50,000.”
According to Carroll, volunteers built 1,500 binary coding kits with last year’s funds, with the kits including all parts and materials required to teach computer language to third-grade children, which were primarily girls though all children are invited to participate. Brittany Greer added that the two organisations are looking to Computer Science Education Week in early December as one potentially exciting growth opportunity. “With upcoming STEM days and curriculum integration, we are excited to continue collaborating with our partner schools, opening up new opportunities for students to engage with STEM and creating a pipeline for future innovators,” she said.
Goodyer, sales manager at manufacturer’s representative RTSales, added, “The STEM programme, and our involvement through these binary coding kits, lays the groundwork for a career path to the AV industry. We include a brochure in these kits that showcases women and the careers they have in the AV industry. We want to communicate that women have a place in the AV industry, and continue to close the gender gap as the next generation of professionals enter AV.”
“Women make up only 28 per cent of the STEM workforce, and Rosie Riveters works to increase that statistic through an emphasis on productive struggle and confidence building,” explained Greer. “We are excited to work with Erica, Jennifer and the incredible pro AV community through AV Gives. By opening young girls eyes to the possibilities in pro AV, we can help share a more diverse and innovative future for the industry.”
For more information on how organisations and contributors can get involved, visit https://www.avgives.com/
