Financial Giving »

RAFT News

In This Section

Announcements
  • RAFT invites Kids Kit Testers for fun learning using RA: One of the most important steps in our hands on Activity Kit development process is user testing. We want to test RAFT Activity Kits to ensure we are delivering the best quality product, with easy to understand instructions, and exceptional ...continue
  • Brighten your students’ learning with RAFT’s ‘Bat: Want to teach your students about basic electric circuits using hands on methods? Then the “Light and Power Up the Learning!” RAFT workshop is just the thing for you! The workshop at San Jose RAFT is held tomorrow (February 4th) from 8: ...continue
  • RAFT Hands-on Education Activity Kits Available Online: A variety of RAFT’s more popular education activity kits are now available for purchase online for educators coast-to-coast looking for teaching resources to transform science, math and other topics into engaging learning activities. A su ...continue
  • RAFT Achieves 4-Star Rating From Charity Navigator: Charity Navigator, America’s premier charity evaluator has given RAFT its coveted 4-Star rating for sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency. We thank Charity Navigator for this recognition.
  • RAFT Honors Two Bay Area Science Educators: Irvin Lindsey (Santa Cruz) and Ralph Miller (Belmont) are being recognized with a RAFT Hands-On Learning Award for creative  and outstanding work using hands-on activities to engage their students. See press release for more details http:/ ...continue
  • RAFT Fall 2011 Wide-Range of Workshops: The Fall 2011 Workshop Schedule is online with a wide-range of workshops in the areas of science, math, art, early education and technology. If you register and pay for a workshop by Sept. 15th, you will get a $5 discount off each workshop. ...continue
  • In Memory of Mary Chappell Laycock: Mary C. Laycock, leading math educator and generous RAFT supporter, passed away recently. Long-time members of RAFT will know this great lady who did so much to give all educators hands-on methods to teach mathematics effectively. She belie ...continue
  • RAFT Wins Acterra Business Environment Award: RAFT is being recognized by Acterra, Solutions for a Healthy Planet, as a recipient of its 2011 Business Environment Awards. This coveted award recognizes Bay Area leaders that make impactful contributions, serve as a collaborative model fo ...continue
  • RAFT Launches Online Membership Renewal: RAFT is making it easier for members to renew their membership by launching online renewal and setting our annual renewal dues at $25.00 all year long. To renew and pay dues online, please go to www.raft.net. Of course, members can still re ...continue
  • RAFT Wins Acterra Environmental Award: Acterra, a leading nonprofit that brings people together to create solutions for a healthy planet, has awarded its highest Business Environmental Award for 2011 to RAFT. This award recognizes organizations that demonstrate leadership in pro ...continue
Show Archived Announcements
  • You can give the gift of hands-on education to kids, and have your donation doubled!

    RAFT provides educators with the tools, ideas, and encouragement they need to create powerful hands-on learning experiences that engage kids and improve their academic performance. Thanks to a generous matching grant of $25,000, every dollar that RAFT receives by December 31st will be doubled up to this amount. continue

    • California students rank near the bottom nationally in math and science?
    • 80% of multi-subject elementary school teachers spend an hour or less per week on science, and 16% spend no time on the subject at all?
    • Nearly $17 Billion dollars (yes, that's billion with a B!) has been cut from California school budgets within the last two years, and an additional $2.4 billion may be cut in the next year?

    Here’s the good news: You can make a difference! The earlier students engage in hands-on experiences in math, science and art, the more quickly they develop into curious learners—an essential ingredient of academic achievement. RAFT activities provide students with real-world, collaborative and inquiry-based hands-on experiences that build skills that kids will need throughout their lives.

    RAFT is working to provide all educators with the tools, ideas, and encouragement they need to create powerful hands-on learning experiences that engage kids and improve their academic performance. We now serve nearly 9,000 educators who reach more than half a million local kids. These educators are bringing learning to life through RAFT’s innovative hands-on activities, low-cost classroom supplies, equipment for preparing lessons, and professional training.

    This year we have an exciting opportunity to increase the benefits that RAFT delivers! Thanks to a generous matching grant of $25,000, every dollar that you give by December 31st up to $25,000 will be doubled.

    Help RAFT give California’s educators the help they need to prepare the next generation of leaders and innovators by giving today at www.raft.net/online-donation.

    RAFT is a nonprofit organization with 501c(3) designation, so your donation is tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. Our tax identification number is 77-0365627.


  • Looking for a holiday gift for a teacher or educator? Give a RAFT gift card, and help bring hands-on learning to kids in and out of the classroom! Learn more about RAFT's Gift Card Program.

  • RAFT Kits Help Build a "Bridge to Algebra" for S. San Francisco Students

    RAFT is partnering with the San Mateo County Math & Science Dept. to provide hands-on math activity kits for 3 new after-school homework centers in South San Francisco. The objective of this pilot program, which starts in Jan. 2011, is to diminish the math achievement gap for "at risk" middle school students through a high quality extended learning time math enrichment program. continue

  • RAFT on KEAR Family Radio: RAFT and Mary Simon were featured on three KEAR's "Community Involvement" radio segments that aired September 10th, 13th and 14th. KEAR reaches families from Marin County down to the South as well as East Bay areas. Click on the dates to listen!

  • Upcoming RAFT Events!: Educator Resource Fairs. Multi-cultural events, Early Childhood conference at Foothill College and more. View our Calendar of Events

  • RAFT brings Educators over 600 hands-on learning projects!: With the addition of six new math and science idea sheets, RAFT now provides educators with over 600 ideas for implementing hands-on education projects. Algebra Rummy, Carpet Square Math, Connect Three, Gasping for Air, Math Checkers, and MoM's Playoffs.
    View all of RAFT's new and updated idea sheets.

  • New Idea Videos Released: With help from volunteers from Deloitte, we were able to produce a video for 6 of our hands-on Idea Sheets. Flip over Fractions, Gravity Defying Spring, Inertia Ball, Lunch Plate Launch Pad, Leonardo's Arched Bridge, and Race Around the Sun.

  • More New RAFT Idea Sheets: Light Color Wheel, Puzzling Directions, Easy Piecy Decimals, Everybody Talks about It! View all of RAFT's new and updated idea sheets.

  • Upcoming RAFT Events!: Homeschool, BTSA, Educator Resource Fairs and more. View our Calendar of Events

  • RAFT Fall 2010 Workshop schedule now on-line: RAFT's calendar of Fall workshops will help you get off to a great start in science, math, literacy, art, early education, and more. Check the schedule for technology classes on Google, Merlot, Glogster, and Adobe tools. See full course descriptions and sign up at: www.raft.net/workshops

  • RAFT 2010 FELLOWS: RAFT is proud to announce our newest RAFT Fellows, who were selected based on demonstrating a high level of interest and aptitude for hands-on immersive instruction. Thanks to generous sponsorships from Rambus and Agilent, Fellows receive cash and RAFT gift cards to use for developing educational projects. In return, they will participate in a variety of RAFT creative and instructional activities throughout the year.

  • New "Hands-On" award program: RAFT announces a new "Hands-On" award program to recognize exceptional collaborative and inquiry-based education activities that members bring to young learners.

  • Special Back-to-School Membership Offer!*:
    Sign up for a new membership and receive 10 free books to build or add to your classroom library. If you're already a member, bring your friends and if they sign up for a new membership that day, you too will receive 10 free books plus be eligible to enter a drawing for a $100 RAFT gift card!
    *Offer good while supplies last. Offer starts 8/6/10. Drawing on 10/1/10.

  • RAFT Named 2010 Best of San Jose Award for Educational Services:
    Each year, the US Commerce Association (USCA) identifies companies that have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community. This year, RAFT is honored to accept the US Commerce Association's award as the "Best of San Jose" educational services provider.

  • RAFT Has 3 New Idea Sheets for Hands-on Projects:
    Inertia Ball – Physical Science for K-12 students – aligned to 1st, 3rd, 5th, 8th, and HS Physics standards.
    Salmon You Can Count On – Math & Life science for 6th – 12th students – aligned to 6th & 7th grade Math standards & HS Biology Science standards. continue

  • 2010 RAFT Innovation Institute: Due to the generosity of the sponsors, Agilent Technologies and Rambus, over 50 educators were able to participate at no charge to them, in one or more days of the 2010 RAFT Innovation Institute which was held at RAFT Redwood City and RAFT San Jose in July 2010. RAFT's popular Innovation Institute showcases simple and engaging ways to build 21st-century thinking skills into students’ learning experiences.

  • Looking for a new hands-on learning activity?: New and updated project idea sheets can now be directly searched in RAFT's Educator Tools. Just added: "Zero Wins" math for 1st - 3rd graders, and "Flip Over Fractions" for 2nd – 8th grade students that is aligned to 2nd - 4th grade standards and provides a good practice/review for older learners. Check out these and other great projects at www.raft.net/idea-sheets!

  • Exploratorium Teacher Institute: The 7th annual Exploratorium Teacher Institute is coming to RAFT on Wednesday, July 7. Taught by Exploratorium staff, this popular workshop showcases simple and engaging ways to build 21st-century thinking skills into the learning experience. continue

  • Brocade and RAFT team up: Brocade is a corporate materials donor and their employees donate time with RAFT to give back to the community. This Brocade video features some of their employees working at RAFT's Volunteer Center in Sunnyvale (The Sobrato Center).

  • 2010 Education Initiative Partnership: Entrepreneur's Foundation names RAFT as its partner to receive classroom supplies and online donations for its 2010 Education Initiative, which is aimed at inspiring and supporting academic success for young learners of all income levels.

  • Over 300 Cisco Quality Managers Build RAFT "Frac-Jack" Kits : As part of Cisco's ongoing commitment to community volunteerism, over 300 managers in the company's Customer Value Chain Management organization kicked off their fiscal 2011 business planning meeting with a RAFT "team building" activity at Cisco in San Jose, CA on June 9th. continue

  • RAFT attends Genentech's expo: RAFT (along with 27 other non profit organizations) attended Genentech’s first-ever non profit expo for their employees. RAFT brought along the spectra scope and harmonica kits to demonstrate the concept of hands-on learning to their employees. continue

  • Pennies for Patients Recognition: RAFT is pleased to join the Leukemia - Lymphoma Society in recognizing teachers who raise "Pennies for Patients", a Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's School & Youth Program to help fight blood cancer. This recognition event for participating teachers will be held at our San Jose location on June 3rd.

  • Deloitte IMPACT Day event June 11: This special day marks the 3rd annual event where Deloitte has selected RAFT to be their local partner for employee volunteer hours and participation. Deloitte volunteers will brainstorm new hands-on learning concepts, create kits made largely from corporate donations and produce "how to" videos for on-demand activity coaching that will encourage students to better understand science, technology, engineering and math concepts. continue

  • Pennies for Patients Recognition: RAFT is pleased to join the Leukemia - Lymphoma Society in recognizing teachers who raise "Pennies for Patients", a Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's School & Youth Program to help fight blood cancer. This recognition event for participating teachers will be held at our San Jose location on June 3rd.

  • Volunteerism in the Santa Clara Area: Greg Brown, RAFT Director of Education, has been invited discuss "Volunteerism in the Santa Clara Area" at a Santa Clara Leadership course meeting to be held at Cisco Systems on June 3, 2010. continue

  • 4 Star Rating Exceptional 4-star rating: RAFT receives an exceptional 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America's largest and most-utilized independent evaluator of charities. This means our supporters can be assured that our program is worthy of their trust and commitment.

  • Intel International Science and Engineering Fair: RAFT was present at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair on May 13, 2010. Gathered that day were 1,500 of the smartest kids from all over the world competing in the Science and Engineering fields. continue

  • Bring Your Lesson Plans to Life: RAFT’s Director of Education, Greg Brown, was invited to give a presentation on "Bring Your Lesson Plans to Life" at the Bay Area Schools Environment Conference on May 1, 2010. Greg talked about how RAFT re-purposed materials for use in their "hands-on" activity kits and for other purposes for teachers use in the class room. continue

  • RAFT has gone green!: Resource Area for Teaching is officially a certified Bay Area Green Business!

  • Summer Workshops Announced: The summer workshops at RAFT are now available. Register Online

Articles
Show Archived Articles


Blogs

Press Releases
Show Archived Press Releases


Press Kit

Some files require a special viewer such as Flash Player, Acrobat Reader, or Word Viewer which are available for free.