It takes a lot of incredible people working together to provide free enrichment programs and life-changing opportunities to more than 150,000 students across the country.
In recent weeks, we’ve highlighted the importance of our staff and the impact that individual donors make on All-Star students. We also owe so much to the investments made by foundations and corporate partnerships, and the exceptional people behind these collaborations.
The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation stands out as an extraordinary example of how an organization with aligned goals can partner with us to achieve more.
Since 2004, the Mott Foundation has spurred ASAS’ growth and success through program funding, operational support, endowment contributions, advocacy efforts, and active leadership on our national board of directors. To date, the Mott Foundation has invested more than $10 million to support our mission. Their contributions have had a profound impact on countless students and communities over the past 20 years.
Earlier this month, six members of the Mott team traveled from their headquarters in Flint, Michigan, to meet ASAS LA students and program staff at Suva Intermediate School in Bell Gardens, California. During the site visit, Gwynn Hughes, a senior program officer at Mott, commented on the range of programs the Mott Education team had the chance to observe: “It was inspiring to be able to participate in the All-Stars programs at Suva—from STEM and graphic design to sports, dance, and cheer. It’s one thing to read about impact, but it’s truly special to hear about it from the students themselves, in their own words.”
In addition to their financial support and personal investment in our students, the Mott Foundation has championed the integration of Mizzen Education into our curriculum. Originally developed by the Mott Foundation to provide outstanding content to after-school providers at no cost, Mizzen has evolved into a learning resource platform designed to enhance youth development programs. ASAS is working alongside Mizzen to develop a modified version of the app that aligns with existing All-Stars resources and curricula. It’s currently in the testing phase at several chapters, and we look forward to reporting on our progress in the coming months.
