Trane Technologies (NYSE: TT), a major employer in the La Crosse area, has poured an additional $1.2 million into the Project Scientist STEAM program to bolster science, technology, engineering, art and math activities for young girls.
The grant will be made over the next three years. It follows a $1 million investment from Trane in 2021 to support about 800 girls, ages 4 to 12, in Project Scientist’s after-school programs and summer camps.
The new funding will build on that initiative, bringing the nonprofit's Summer STEAM Lab program to communities where the climate control systems manufacturer has a major workforce. Those areas include La Crosse; Charlotte, North Carolina; Tyler, Texas; St. Paul, Minnesota; and Brea, California.
Trane has multiple operations in La Crosse, include a technology center and chiller production facility.
Trane employees will mentor girls and give them a behind-the-scenes look at STEAM careers and workplaces.
"I am so proud of our continuing support of Project Scientist because I’ve seen firsthand the joy on the young girls’ faces as they interact with our team, learn about possible opportunities, and build confidence in their own abilities," Deidra Williams, Trane's leader of Global Corporate Social Responsibility, told Charlotte Business Journal in a statement. "These innovative and inclusive programs from Project Scientist open a new world of possibilities for children in our communities and spark interest in STEM fields that will propel them into rewarding careers.”
Trane said the grant also backs an after-school STEAM Club in Monterrey, Mexico, as well as virtual scholar programs that will shift to an in-person model next year.
"Trane’s generosity combined with employee collaboration not only sustains our current programs but also enables us to scale and expand our reach in the coming years, ensuring that students from historically marginalized communities have access to educational and career pathways to become future innovators and leaders," Project Scientist CEO Patrice Johnson said in a statement.
She took the helm at the nonprofit last year following former CEO and founder Sandy Marshall's departure from the organization.
Sign up here for the Milwaukee Business Journal’s free morning and afternoon daily newsletters to receive the latest business news impacting the Milwaukee area, and don't miss getting breaking news alerts on your phone by downloading our free app.
More than 1,500 girls have participated in the nonprofit's programs since 2021. Trane said that over the last three years students engaged with 700-plus employee volunteers, who supplied them with real-world exposure to diverse women who work in STEM careers.
Trane said the grant is part of the sustainability pledge it made in 2021 to contribute $100 million and 500,000 volunteer hours to assist underserved groups.
Trane is based in Swords, Ireland, and has its executive headquarters in Davidson, North Carolina. Project Scientist is a nonprofit organization founded in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2012. It does not have a head office, a spokesperson previously told Charlotte Business Journal.
