Broad Ripple Kiwanis Club (BRKC) is a local division of Kiwanis, an international initiative that serves some of the most vulnerable constituents in communities, with a target population that includes children and the disabled. In our community, BRKC's volunteer work revolves around tutoring at IPS schools, donating books to local youth organizations, supporting the Salvation Army, and providing grants to worthy causes within the midtown area. TPF4Y has been the lucky recipient of several grants from BRKC, in support of computer science and robotics for girls.
Last spring, a generous donation from BRKC funded the purchase of 10 laptops to support the US2020-managed CoderDojo coding club that operates out of the Speak Easy, just south of Broad Ripple at 53rd and Winthrop Avenue. CoderDojo is a free program, but at community-based locations, students must bring their own technology in order to participate, creating a significant barrier for low-income students. Thanks to BRKC's donation, ten spots are now available every month for students who are not able to bring their own laptops, ensuring that anyone and everyone is able to attend the Speak Easy Dojo. (Want to sign your child up to participate in the Speak Easy CoderDojo? Click here!)
"The Broad Ripple Kiwanis Club made a commitment to our midtown community to help improve our local public schools," said Marianne Beck, member of the BRKC Board of Directors. "We felt that CoderDojo was a great way to extend the work we do with IPS. To us, better schools mean better communities and we have enjoyed partnering with TechPoint Foundation for Youth to help make that happen!
The BRKC-sponsored laptops served double duty over the summer at a US2020 coding program at Horizons at St. Richard's, where students completed Hour of Code activities and spent six weeks working on Code.org and other fun curriculum. BRKC also sponsored the All Girls FLL Challenge, put on by TPF4Y and several other partners, which impacted almost 50 girls from 9 robotics teams during a day-long, off-season tournament.
Because we are so grateful for their continuing support of TPF4Y programs as well as the work they do in the Broad Ripple community, we can't wait to join them on Friday, October 7th for their fifth annual Pints for Half Pints fundraiser benefitting STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) programs in midtown IPS schools. There will be live music, food trucks, raffle prizes, and games, plus you'll receive a souvenir pint glass! To purchase tickets, click here.
We hope to see you at this fun event and look forward to continuing our partnership with BRKC!