Challenger Center Receives $1.4 Million from Overdeck Family Foundation

WASHINGTON DC—JULY 24, 2024—Challenger Center, a leading nonprofit science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education organization, has received a $1.4 million grant from Overdeck Family Foundation to scale its innovative digital programs, enhance its in-person programs, and continue to strengthen the organization’s ability to evaluate and deepen program impact.

“Overdeck Family Foundation understands how powerful immersive STEM experiences like the ones Challenger Center delivers can changes lives,” said Valerie Fitton-Kane, Vice President of Development, Partnerships and Strategy, Challenger Center. “The investments we make under this new grant will enable Challenger Center to reach more students and to be more efficient and effective at changing their lives. We are so grateful for Overdeck Family Foundation’s belief in us and the difference we make in the world.”

In addition to the funding, the Foundation has provided access to capacity-building support, empowering Challenger Center staff and leadership to participate in cohort-based training to strengthen skills in revenue generation and program scaling.

“Challenger Center offers students a chance to engage deeply in STEM learning using immersive technology, imaginative role-playing, and authentic and exciting challenges,” said Emma Banay, Inspired Minds Portfolio Manager at Overdeck Family Foundation. “We’re excited to support the organization’s innovation and growth as it continues to provide access to thousands of simulated space missions and space-related programs to hundreds of thousands of students across the country.”

This multiyear grant follows a successful pilot grant year during which Challenger Center received $300,000, as well as in-kind consulting, to begin scaling its digital programs and to strengthen the organization’s systems for tracking student reach and program impact. In 2024, Challenger Center is rolling out a new tool that will empower Challenger Center and all Challenger Learning Centers to see program reach and student impact across hundreds of simulated space missions and other programs in near real-time.

About Overdeck Family Foundation
Overdeck Family Foundation was established in 2011 by John and Laura Overdeck, with the goal of providing all children the opportunity to unlock their potential. The Foundation focuses exclusively on enhancing education, funding efforts both inside and outside of school in the areas of early childhood, hands-on STEM education, and K-9 programs that include supporting educators and student-centered learning environments. For more information, please visit https://overdeck.org.

About Challenger Center
As a leader in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, Challenger Center provides more than 250,000 students annually with experiential education programs that engage students in hands-on learning opportunities. These programs, delivered in Challenger Learning Centers and classrooms, strengthen knowledge in STEM subjects and inspire students to pursue careers in these important fields. Challenger Center was created by the Challenger families to honor the crew of shuttle flight STS-51-L. For more information about Challenger Center, please visit www.challenger.org or connect on Facebook and Twitter.