Charlotte nonprofit Digi-Bridge is better positioned to achieve its mission after receiving its largest donation yet from Trane Technologies Charitable Foundation.
Trane Technologies (NYSE: TT) gifted Digi-Bridge $285,000 to help the organization bring its science, technology, engineering, arts and math after-school program to eight Title I schools in the Charlotte region. The funding will also be used to expand Digi-Bridge's robotics program to three local schools.
The eight schools that received the STEAM programming include University Meadows Elementary School; Wilson STEM Academy; Dorothy J. Vaughan Academy of Technology; Joseph W. Grier Academy; Oakdale Elementary School; Newell Elementary School; James Martin Middle School; and Ranson Middle School.
Founded in 2014, Digi-Bridge works closely with Title I schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools district to give students — ranging from kindergarten to eighth grade — access to STEAM education. Its mission is to grow student's interest and passion in landing a career in STEAM, ensuring they have the necessary resources and skills to succeed. Over the last nine years, Digi-Bridge has provided 20,000 students with free STEAM after-school programming.
Alyssa Sharpe, CEO of Digi-Bridge, told CBJ the nonprofit aims to expand its program to 50% of local Title I elementary and middle schools by 2026 — which is around 40 schools. With its latest donation from Trane Technologies, the organization's STEAMLab has reached 29 schools.
"So we're well on our way to that 40," Sharpe said. "(The donation) allows us to be right on track with the growth we want to have over time."
She said Digi-Bridge's growth strategy has been focused on expanding into Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' nine learning communities — which includes north, south, east, west, central, northeast, northwest, southeast and southwest areas of the region. It targets Title I schools — which have a large percentage of children from low-income families — within those areas due to their lack of access to programs such as STEAM or robotics education.
Sharpe said the nonprofit has been partners with Trane Technologies for four years, and their relationship has grown significantly over that period.
"In addition to funding, (Trane Technologies) also provides volunteers, and volunteers are critical to our mission because we want our students to meet and learn from people who look like them and are succeeding in the field."
Trane also offers mentors to Digi-Bridge, thought leadership and helps the nonprofit organize STEAM kits that are distributed to its school partners.
"They're just really supportive of our mission because they know that the students today are their employees in the future, and we have to invest in them now," she said.
Following the donation, Digi-Bridge is focused on growing its team to support the additional schools it has partnered with. Sharpe said she anticipates the organization will develop more partnerships like Trane to help push it closer to achieving its expansion goals over the next three years.
