Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City members at work.
ATLANTIC CITY – Members at the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City will continue to have access to innovative STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) education from coding to drones, thanks to a $33,880 grant from the Arman Roy Foundation.
This will be the second year of partnership with the Arman Roy Foundation whose mission is to empower underserved students with technology resources and education, enabling them to be successful in today’s digital world. In 2023, the foundation also provided a $31,460 grant and helped to organize a speaker event with the FAA during the end of summer STEAM showcase.
The grant will cover the salaries for STEAM educators to guide members in completing projects with Lego building, 3D printing, circuitry coding, drone education and a STEAM fair. The grant will serve approximately 200 students ages 6 to 18 at the Drexel Club and Teen Center, where the STEAM lab is located.
Arman Roy
The Arman Roy Foundation was established in June 2019 to honor the memory of Arman Roy, a humble, caring young man with an extraordinary gift and passion for technology.
“Arman understood the issue of the digital divide and wanted to ensure every child could enjoy the same wonder and opportunity of technology that he did,” Arman’s mother and foundation Chairwoman Manisha Roy said. “Knowing that 70% of all U.S. jobs require digital skills, that high-skilled computing occupations are the fastest-growing sector in our nation, and unfortunately, many students from low-income or underrepresented groups lack access to 21st-century educational programs to be prepared for this economy is our collective call to action.”
In the five years since the foundation was launched, Arman’s family, friends and hundreds of others have come together to provide more than 4,000 underserved youths with access to transformative STEM resources and education.
“This partnership underscores our shared commitment to empowering the youth of Atlantic City with transformative educational opportunities,” Boys and Girls Club CEO Charles A. Wallace II said. “Together, we can make a meaningful impact on the lives of these young individuals.”
“It’s so important that we support youth in Atlantic City, because there’s a critical need here,” Manisha Roy added. “We are fortunate to find a dedicated team at the Boys & Girls Club who are passionate about helping their kids succeed. They are always ready to roll up their sleeves and co-create programs that will make a difference. Arman’s beautiful spirit continues to inspire a new generation of innovators.”
