NEW YORK - Nov. 11, 2019 - A recent $250,000 grant from Salesforce will allow EcoRise, a K–12 education nonprofit that develops curricula, teacher training programs, and student microgrants related to E-STEM and sustainability topics, to expand its programming in the Northeastern United States, bringing classroom support to K–12 educators in Boston, MA; New York City, NY; and Washington, DC. This school year, the Salesforce investment in the innovative E-STEM programs of EcoRise will benefit 200 educators and 11,200 students in the Northeast.

Through this partnership with Salesforce, EcoRise will expand Northeast programming with a focus on empowering educators at schools with a large percentage of low-income students, advancing EcoRise and Salesforce's commitment to equity. Students will learn about climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals, as they build eco-literacy in the areas of waste, water, energy, food, public spaces, air quality, and transportation. Over the course of the year, students will complete a sustainability design challenge, creating projects that have measurable impact on the social, economic, and environmental pillars of sustainability.

Salesforce, the global leader in CRM, is committed to sustainability and developing the next generation of leaders. Salesforce supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through technology, grants, and community engagement. Salesforce harnesses a culture of innovation to drive positive social impact by serving the interests of all its stakeholders—including communities and the environment.

"At Salesforce, we're committed to ensuring students have the skills needed to succeed in the future," said Ebony Beckwith, Chief Philanthropy Officer, Salesforce. "EcoRise is inspiring a new generation of leaders to design a sustainable future, and we're proud to support their expansion of STEM classroom education."

This project includes $35,000 for a Student Innovation Fund, which provides microgrants to students who devise data-driven, real-world solutions to further sustainability in their schools. These microgrants empower students as leaders, introducing them to career pathways and preparing them for overall success beyond their years in school. The project will include schools in Washington DC Public Schools, NYC Department of Education, and Boston Public Schools.

"The NYC Department of Education is grateful to Salesforce and EcoRise for their partnership in support of meaningful ways for educators and students to engage in sustainability. With the largest public school system in the country and at a critical juncture for climate action, these opportunities are essential to build necessary momentum in sustainability education, leadership, and skill-building across adults and youth," said Meredith McDermott, Director of Sustainability for the NYC Department of Education.

K–12 Teachers in Boston, NYC, or DC who are interested in participating can learn more and register here: https://ecorise.org/si-program/.

Contact
Laura Fuller