RAFT depends on community support to fulfill our mission of inspiring hands-on learning. We are featuring a profile of one partner (YMCA of Silicon Valley), one volunteer group (eBay), and one donor (Flextronics) from the many that help RAFT make a difference for the educators and students in our community:

• PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: YMCA of Silicon Valley

Over 100 YMCA of Silicon Valley Site Directors and Assistant Site Directors of Youth Programs have completed 2 of a 3-part series of Professional Development Training at RAFT. This training featured RAFT Activities that build 21st century skills through project-based, hands-on learning and team building.  The training focused on:

•  Understanding how to apply the common core standards    through project based learning
• Coaching their staff to greater success through lessons
• Utilizing STEM resources at RAFT

YMCA survey comments:  “A great source of materials and fresh ideas”· “Innovative ideas that are quick and easy”· “Ideas that are completely out of the box thinking”· “Inspiring…a fun interactive environment for kids and staff”· “Hands-on learning builds critical thinking skills”· “(RAFT) allows my instructors at the After School Program to implement creative lessons that keep the students engaged”.

• VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: eBay

Earlier this month, close to 80 eBay employees gathered for a ‘Structured Data’ All Hands meeting and a fun team building event where they volunteered their time to help build RAFT Activity Kits.  The eBay team assembled seven different kits predominately covering science topics — Rollback Can, Faux Stained Glass, Anamorphic Art, Black &White Makes Color, The Germinator, Car on a Roll, Evolution by Natural Selection. In the time spent with RAFT, just over 1300 kits were built. By all measures, the eBay teambuilding and kit building event was a great success! THANKS eBay!

•  FINANCIAL DONOR SPOTLIGHT: Flextronics

Flextronics supports a range of community development efforts, including initiatives that improve education and the environment. The Flextronics Foundation was established in 2002 and serves as a catalyst for positive change in communities around the world. Flextronics has been a supporter  to RAFT since 2008.

 “Flextronics is proud of our long-standing relationship with RAFT,” said Thomas Ezrin, senior vice president, Global Total Rewards and Corporate Sustainability at Flextronics. “We strongly support the great work that RAFT does toward science and math education in our communities, and take pride in providing support to such an important cause.”