TBTF Foundation Named Corporate Partner of the Year by Boys & Girls Clubs

TAMPA – The Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay recently awarded the TBTF Foundation with their biggest honor, Corporate Partner of the Year.

Since the start of its relationship, the TBTF Foundation, the charitable arm of the Tampa Bay Technology Forum, has donated more than $1 million worth of funding, computer equipment, software, infrastructure, labor and instruction to local Boys & Girls Clubs, including 26 Computer-rific labs that serve more than 1,000 local youth daily.

In 2009, the Foundation began shifting its funding focus from technology equipment to technical skill development in order for the kids to better use the equipment in the Computer-rific labs. Together, the Foundation and the Boys & Girls Clubs created and funded a full-time computer lab coordinator to increase youth participation and technical proficiency in the labs, improve the technical skills of the lab staff and implement programs designed to keep the kids engaged and encouraged to pursue STEM careers beyond high school.

“We are thrilled to have received such an honor, and we look forward to working closely with the Boys & Girls Clubs for years to come,” said Bob Riddell, TBTF Foundation Chairman. “The Foundation’s mission of equipping and encouraging local ‘at risk’ youth to pursue careers in STEM is closely aligned with the mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs, so this is a very powerful relationship.”

In one jointly supported initiative more than 200 kids successfully completed Career Launch in 2009, a program that walks the kids through the process of building a business plan and presenting it to a team of adults. Additionally, a majority of lab participants completed programs like Netsmartz designed to promote Internet safety, and several students are now contributing to the Computer-rific blog.

In 2010, the Foundation will work closely with the Boys & Girls Clubs with their inaugural “Be Great” film festival, a program using interactive digital courseware and with the guidance of staff and volunteers; kids will create original short films to showcase at a red carpet event planned for August 13, 2010.

To learn more about the TBTF Foundation visit their website at www.TBTFF.org