25th Anniversary Celebration | Project Exploration

Project Exploration Celebrates 25 Years

Event Highlights and How You Can Help

Watch the Recap Video Help Us Reach Our Goal

A Night to Remember: 25th Anniversary Fundraiser Recap

A Roaring Success

We are thrilled to share the tremendous success of our 25th Anniversary Fundraiser held on June 20th! Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we raised over $200,000 to support our mission of transforming lives through STEM education.

We invite you to watch our event recap video, capturing the highlights and inspiring moments of the evening, especially the student showcase:

Elena, Michael, and Uzzi’s Stories

While we are grateful to the unbelievable showing of support we received that night, however, we are still just short of our fundraising goal! Your donation can help us close this gap and ensure we continue providing transformative learning experiences for underrepresented youth in STEM for years to come.

Since 1999, Project Exploration has been dedicated to changing the face of STEM with a focus on equity. We serve youth from communities historically underrepresented in STEM fields, removing barriers for black, brown, low-income youth, and young women. Here are some of the significant impacts we’ve made:

Over 45,000 Chicago students served: Through our Youth-Science Pathway (YSP) programs, STEM Learning Centers, and school-based initiatives, we have provided high-quality STEM education to thousands of students.
Improved academic outcomes: Our students are three times more likely to enroll in a four-year college than their peers, and over one-third of Project Exploration alumni major in science once in college.
Increased interest and confidence in STEM: We have seen a 42% increase in interest in science careers, a 20% improvement in participant attitudes toward science, and a 20% boost in confidence in engineering abilities.
High retention rates: We maintain a 77% retention rate, with students typically participating in at least two program opportunities.
Impact on underserved communities: We focus on neighborhoods with limited access to high-quality STEM learning opportunities, including Austin, North Lawndale, West Garfield Park, and others.

Decades later, three alumni share how these successes affected their lives on a personal level.

Bringing Back Our Flagship Programs: Your Support Makes It Possible

By helping us reach our goal of $250,000, we will be able to bring back three of our flagship events that have been on hold since the pandemic. These additional funds are especially crucial as we have adapted to serve 300% more students due to the increased demand during and beyond the pandemic!

These programs include All Girls Expedition, All Boys Expedition, and Girls’ Health and Science Day. These transformative experiences are at the heart of Project Exploration’s mission and have significantly impacted countless young lives and we hope will continue to do so:

All Girls Expedition: This program provides middle school girls with an unforgettable weekend camping trip at Glenhagen Farms. It’s a chance for them to escape the urban grind, connect with nature, and engage in hands-on STEM learning. Whether it’s learning about chemical reactions, understanding cellular biology, or simply bonding over a campfire, these experiences are invaluable. One participant shared, “This expedition was a great solution to bringing about experiential STEM learning experiences for all of us.”
All Boys Expedition: The counterpart to the All Girls Expedition, this program offers young boys of color from urban communities in Chicago an opportunity to broaden their horizons. Through outdoor activities and STEM-focused challenges, they gain new perspectives and develop skills that will serve them throughout their lives.
Girls’ Health and Science Day: This annual daylong conference is inspired by the voices of girls in our Sisters4Science (S4S) program who emphasized the importance of understanding their health. The conference features workshops on self-defense, positive digital practices, healthy relationships, and more, guided by the current concerns of the girls. It provides a safe space for them to explore important topics and empowers them to make informed decisions about their well-being.

Please consider making a donation to help us reach our fundraising goal and fuel Project Exploration’s next 25 years of impact, including that of these unique opportunities which are otherwise rarely afforded to the young people we serve. A contribution of any size makes a significant difference.

Invest in the Bright Futures of Our Young People