Cranbrook Institute of Science to Host Fundraiser for Education Programs

The event will focus on STEAM outreach and contributions

May 8, 2019

1685

The Bloomfield Hills-based Cranbrook Institute of Science will host its second annual Women Rock Science fundraiser on May 17. The event will benefit programs for students and honor metro Detroiters who are furthering STEAM education. That is science, technology, engineering, arts, and math — the new and improved version of STEM.

Taking place from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., the goal of Women Rock Science is to raise funds for Cranbrook Institute of Science’s “Service to Other’s” initiatives, which provide STEAM outreach programs to more than 31,000 preK-12th grade students from underserved regions, including Pontiac, Flint, and Hamtramck. Event organizers hope to raise more than $100,000 this year for the programs.

“Seeing the excitement on the children’s faces when our educators go into classrooms shows the impact our initiatives are having on them,” says Michael D. Stafford, director of Cranbrook Institute of Science. “We need to support their educational journey, and we know we can achieve that through these critical outreach programs.”

One of the highlights of the evening will be STEAM-education simulation, in which attendees will have an opportunity to experience a play-by-play of what Cranbrook Institute of Science programs are offering to students. Guests will also be treated to a showing of Doom of the Dinosaurs: Are We Next?, the Acheson Planetarium, a jewelry display from Greenstone’s Fine Jewelers, not to mention STEAM-themed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

Guests of honor include Richard DeVore, Joi Harris, and Angela English. DeVore is the regional president of PNC Detroit. He has been central to introducing southeast Michigan students to science education through $500 million PNC Grow Up Great initiative. Harris is the senior vice president of Major Enterprise Projects at DTE Energy. She’s also the vice president of the board of directors for the Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering program. English is a veteran of Detroit Public Schools with nearly 30 years of teaching experience. She has been at the helm of designing PNC’s Grow Up Great outreach programs.

Sponsors for the event include DTE Energy Foundation, General Motors Co., Ally Financial, Jennifer and Dan Gilbert, Oakland University, and more. General admission tickets can by purchased until May 10 for $100 to $250, while sponsorship packages fall between $1,000-$50,000.

��