Lawrence Livermore National Security awards 40 groups as part of Community Gift Program

Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC (LLNS), the contract manager for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), has announced the recipients for the 2018 LLNS Community Gift Program. These gifts, totaling $100,000, reflect LLNS' commitment to local communities.

LLNS received applications totaling more than $440,000 in requests. Forty applications were selected for awards totaling $100,000 through a committee review process. Many of these awards serve children in the Tri-Valley area as well as Contra Costa and San Joaquin counties, with a focus on literacy, science, technology, engineering and math education and cultural arts. Other recipients focus their charitable efforts toward children, families, senior citizens and individuals in need of assistance.

Bill Goldstein, LLNS president and LLNL director, presented the awards during a reception at the LLNS office in downtown Livermore on Wednesday to the following organizations:

• The American Association of University Women (AAUW), Livermore-Pleasanton-Dublin Tech Trek, delivers summer science camps for girls.
• Agape Villages Foster Family Agency provides enrichment activities for foster kids.
• Alameda County’s Community Food Bank Children's Program provides healthy food for youth.
• Altamont Elementary School’s "If You Think It, You Can Build It!" Program supports lab activities and the expansion of the after-school "Femineers" program.
• California High School’s Digital Making With Raspberry Pi Program offers hands-on tools where students can be the creators of technology.
• Castro Valley High School biotech program provides a safe learning environment in which to explore science helping students reach their highest potential.
• Christensen Middle School delivers a STEM program that places students on a pathway to a high school engineering academy, preparing them for a career in the technical field.
• CityServe of the Tri-Valley offers solutions for human services including emergency shelter, homeless prevention, education support and community collaboration.      
• Deer Valley High School offers programming to develop confidence, talents and skills to special needs students.
• Del Amigo High School Continuation instills the value of education and community in their students, including hands-on science and math materials and equipment.
• Discovery Bay Odyssey of the Mind offers STEM-based educational opportunities for students to think outside the box in technical and engineering fields.
• East Bay National Society of Black Engineers works to increase minority and women engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community.
• Exceptional Needs Network offers a free overnight camp for special needs children at Livermore's Camp Arroyo.
• Future Leaders of America, East Bay Area shapes today's youth into tomorrow's leaders.
• George Kelly Elementary School offers a day at the zoo for fifth graders teaching them about ecosystems, food webs and Earth's spheres.
• Girls Inc. of Alameda County’s SMART! BUILD IT! EUREKA! STEM Program fosters interest and helps build confidence in girls from Oakland.
• Give Every Child A Chance After School STEM Education engages students in hands-on science projects.
• Intertribal Friendship House promotes access to opportunities for native youth.
• Jose M. Hernandez Reaching for the Stars Foundation serves underserved San Joaquin youth with hands-on STEM learning.
• Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center inspires youth and adults in space exploration with the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo moon landing visual and tactile experience.
• Las Positas College Foundation supports faculty and students through resource development and community partnerships.
• Livermore High School’s Gravitech X Robotics supports a student-run engineering/robotics team that competes in STEM competitions.
• Livermore and Granada High School Calculus Camp removes students from everyday distractions and immerses them in the study and review of calculus.  
• Livermore Valley Opera (LVO) provides cultural arts education and student outreach programs.
• Marylin Avenue Elementary School provides robotics supplies to enrich their STEAM team school competitions.
• Pioneers in Engineering (Team 5499 Community Robotics Team) inspires underserved children to pursue futures in technology and engineering.
• Playing At Learning inspires, excites and motivates underserved East Bay youth through team-based programs.
• Robot Garden-System Overload Team educates children of the Tri-Valley though student-led competition participation.
• Sandra J. Wing Healing Therapies Foundation provides healing therapies for cancer patients.
• South/West Park Elementary School explores ecosystems in its natural habitat and human impact on environment with a Durham Ferry Outdoor Education system field trip.
• Students Rising Above offers college and career services for low-income rising freshmen.
• Sunflower Hill Gardens creates a sustainable special needs community for individuals and families with meaningful programs and activities.  
• The Center for Independent Living (TheCIL) offers a program focused on five pathways to independence, which includes academic enrichment for youth with disabilities.
• The Hidden Genius Project delivers an intensive immersion program to expose black male youth to STEM.
• The Ruth Bancroft Garden brings no/low-cost field trips to the Ruth Bancroft Garden for underserved schools.
• Village Community Resource Center serves low-income elementary students through an after-school Academy STEM Program.
• Wayfinder Family Services (previously named Junior Blind) provides critical early childhood development services and support to children and their families.       
• Wicklund Elementary School Foundation-VEX Robotics Program introduces robotics, programming and engineering to students in the San Joaquin County.
• Wiesner Memorial Senior Fund provides emergency help to seniors in the Tri-Valley.
• Woodbridge Elementary School promotes academic success for students with the inclusion of next-generation science supplies for their physical science curriculum.