Blogs | 11.2.2023
Giving 2,208 Students a Ride to Challenger Learning Centers
Post-pandemic, it’s been harder for teachers to take their students on field trips and experience hands-on STEM opportunities like the ones our alumni encountered. One of the largest hurdles is high transportation costs. Whether it’s public school buses or private transportation, school systems struggle to afford it.
Last fall, we asked you for a helping hand . . . well, a ride. And you came to the rescue!
During Giving Tuesday 2022, you and your fellow supporters raised over $20,000 to cover the cost of transportation from schools to Challenger Learning Centers across the country. You helped solve a tough problem facing our community: Covering the cost of getting students out of the classroom and into Challenger Learning Centers so they can engage in hands-on, educational experiences.
You are Challenger Center’s hero. And we’re not just saying that. Because you rose to the occasion, 2,208 students have experienced our STEM education programs at Challenger Learning Centers.
“I always love seeing how engaged our students are when they experience missions at our Challenger Learning Center. They always come away feeling so confident and excited about how they accomplished their mission.”
- Sue Andersen, 5th Grade Teacher at Harrison Elementary School
Each student who stepped onto those buses returned to their classrooms with more than just memories; they returned with a newfound sense of possibility, confidence, and ambition. They returned as budding scientists, engineers, and innovators ready to dive into their STEM studies and imagine new possibilities. Your belief in their potential has opened doors for new possibilities for their futures. We can’t thank you enough for your support!
“The mission was a fun experience that was more than just learning about space. It was being part of it.”
- Mya, 4th Grade Student in Ohio
2023 Giving Tuesday Campaign
We know that a trip to a Challenger Learning Center can be a life-changing experience for students. We must continue to provide inspiring and engaging science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) experiences that can change their future. To do that, we must reach more students and ensure they have access to our programs.
Bus transportation is still a barrier for our teachers and students. By supporting The Bus Fund again in 2023, you’re alleviating this pain point for teachers, breaking down barriers for students, and increasing access to Challenger Center’s programs.
This year, our goal is to raise $25,000 for The Bus Fund. That’s approximately 50 busloads of students going to Challenger Learning Centers across the country! Can we count on you to help inspire more students and make it easier for them to get to a Challenger Learning Center?
Your support will also go twice as far: A longtime Challenger Center donor is generously matching donations dollar-for-dollar up to $5,000 for Giving Tuesday. Double your impact. Double the number of students reached!
Thank you for supporting this important campaign and for being part of the Challenger Center community. We couldn’t do this work without you.
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