The SBB Research Group Foundation named Mandy Chen a recipient of its STEM scholarship. The $2,500 award empowers students to create value for society by pursuing higher learning through interdisciplinary combinations of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Mandy Chen, a freshman, studies Biomedical Engineering at Cornell University. In high school, Chen was a leader in the Society for Women Engineers Club. She is also a member of Project Exploration, a nonprofit organization that aims to give students in underserved communities the ability to participate in free STEM programs. "Mandy is an outstanding example of the kind of student we look for when awarding this scholarship. She's shown remarkable dedication to STEM," said Matt Aven, co-founder and board member of the SBB Research Group Foundation. For eligibility criteria and more information on the Foundation’s STEM scholarship, please visit www.sbbscholarship.org. This story can be found on PR Web and Yahoo!

Heartland Animal Shelter (HAS) received a donation from the SBB Research Group Foundation, which partners with local nonprofits through its Champion A Charity Program. Heartland Animal Shelter believes it is of utmost importance to create a warm, safe, and comfortable space for their feline and canine residents. Earlier this year, the SBBRG Foundation and the Heartland team joined forces to create fleece blankets for the dogs and cats of HAS in Wheeling, IL. Laura Heisinger, SBBRG Foundation’s charity leader for HAS, along with a staff member of HAS provided information about the shelter and its adoptable animals while engaging with attendees. Two adorable canines seeking a forever home made a special appearance as well. "I was truly inspired witnessing the Foundation come together for a cause that holds such personal significance. Although the act of blanket making may appear trivial, its profound impact on each animal under our care cannot be overstated," says Heisinger. Beyond the heartwarming blanket-making activity, the SBBRG Foundation and Heartland Animal Shelter partnership encompasses broader initiatives. The collaboration will provide new anesthesia machines and allocate funds to support the Arlo Fund and the Dr. Do More Fund. The Arlo Fund aims to ensure comprehensive care for all dogs at HAS, attending to their mental and emotional needs through training, behavioral interventions, and a shelter enrichment program. The Dr. Do More Fund empowers HAS to offer specialized medical, behavioral, and rehabilitative care for treatable animals, ensuring they receive the attention and support required for their well-being. For more details, please visit heartlandanimalshelter.org. This story can be found on Business Wire

The SBB Research Group Foundation named Alissa Morgan a recipient of its STEM scholarship. The $2,500 award empowers students to create value for society by pursuing higher learning through interdisciplinary combinations of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Alissa Morgan, a junior, studies Computer Science with a concentration in Network and Security at Colorado State University. While at Colorado State, Morgan founded and served as the team captain for Girl Power, the first all-female robotics team to win a Botball Championship. She also co-founded the Noble Community STEM Mentorship Program, which has grown to teach over 250 elementary students and train 15 mentors. "We are so proud to award this scholarship to students like Alissa, who embodies not only a passion for STEM but dedication to extending STEM education to others," said Matt Aven, co-founder and board member of the SBB Research Group Foundation. For eligibility criteria and more information on the Foundation’s STEM scholarship, please visit www.sbbscholarship.org. This story can be found on PR Web

The SBB Research Group Foundation recognizes three Chicago-area charities as the April 2023 finalists of its monthly grant program supporting impactful nonprofits (in alphabetical order): DrinkWater Family Services (Lindenhurst) seeks to provide a safe and inclusive environment that offers a distinct holistic opportunity for children in foster care and their biological parents to visit. Serving People with a Mission (Chicago) aims to equip individuals from diverse backgrounds to gain the right skills and knowledge to become outstanding leaders who serve their communities well. This is Life (Chicago) strives to inspire the youth to remain focused and dedicated to mastering their crafts and contributing positively to their communities and the world. They are committed to promoting a positive outlook by empowering young individuals to hone their talents and share them with the world. The Foundation encourages any 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to apply for a grant at sbbrg.org/apply-for-grant. Donations are awarded to different organizations monthly. This story can be found on Business Wire

The SBB Research Group Foundation is proud to highlight the continued success of Trisha Dani after receiving the STEM Scholarship in 2021. The $2,500 award empowers students to create value for society by pursuing higher learning through interdisciplinary combinations of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Dani received the SBB Research Group Foundation STEM Scholarship during her sophomore year at University of Michigan while pursuing a degree in Computer Science. Since being awarded the scholarship, Dani has held internships at the State Department and Meta, where she engaged with diverse problem spaces such as full stack development, machine learning, embedded systems, and computer vision. She now works as a machine learning engineer at Humana. “It’s so wonderful to see Trisha continue to use her STEM education in her career. We are honored to be a step on her pathway to success," said Matt Aven, co-founder and board member of the SBB Research Group Foundation. The SBB Research Group Foundation is honored to have played a role in Dani’s success. We look forward to continuing to support outstanding students in STEM and helping them achieve their full potential. For eligibility criteria and more information on the Foundation’s STEM scholarship, please visit www.sbbscholarship.org. This story can be found on Yahoo!

The SBB Research Group Foundation is proud to highlight the continued success of Bryanna Godfrey after receiving the STEM Scholarship in 2021. The $2,500 award empowers students to create value for society by pursuing higher learning through interdisciplinary combinations of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Godfrey received the SBB Research Group Foundation STEM Scholarship during her senior year at Stanford University while pursuing a degree in Human Biology. After being awarded the scholarship, Godfrey focused on independent projects in her lab, collecting cell-free RNA from cerebrospinal fluid samples to investigate gene expression in breast cancer patients with brain metastases. While continuing her research until graduation, Godfrey also volunteered as a teaching assistant for a free introductory neuroscience course at the International Youth Neuroscience Association. Godfrey is currently planning to matriculate at Columbia University's Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons in the fall of 2023 to pursue a medical degree. "Bryanna has a very promising medical career ahead of her, and I'm so pleased we could be a step on her path to her medical degree," said Matt Aven, co-founder and board member of the SBB Research Group Foundation. The SBB Research Group Foundation is honored to have played a role in Godfrey's success. We look forward to continuing to support outstanding students in STEM and helping them achieve their full potential. For eligibility criteria and more information on the Foundation’s STEM scholarship, please visit www.sbbscholarship.org. This story can be found on PRWeb and Yahoo!

The SBB Research Group Foundation named Vivian Chen a recipient of its STEM scholarship. The $2,500 award empowers students to create value for society by pursuing higher learning through interdisciplinary combinations of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Vivian Chen is a first-year Northwestern University student, studying Computer Science. Chen is a recipient of the Chicago Engineers Foundation Incentive Award and has been named an Amazon Future Engineer. She has a summer 2023 internship at Amazon. "Vivian is the kind of student we want to support with our scholarship. She has enormous promise as an engineer," said Matt Aven, co-founder and board member of the SBB Research Group Foundation. For eligibility criteria and more information on the Foundation's STEM scholarship, please visit www.sbbscholarship.org. This story can be found on PRWeb

The SBB Research Group Foundation is proud to highlight the continued success of Alana Mermin-Bunnell after receiving the STEM Scholarship in 2022. The $2,500 award empowers students to create value for society by pursuing higher learning through interdisciplinary combinations of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Mermin-Bunnell received the SBB Research Group Foundation STEM Scholarship during her junior year at Stanford University while pursuing a degree in Bioengineering. Since receiving the scholarship, Mermin-Bunnell has interned at the National Institute of Health, conducted research in the Skylar-Scott lab at Stanford, and mentored elementary students through the Discovering Science Together Club. She also received the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow award and was recognized as a Tau Beta Pi Graduate Fellow. In the fall, Mermin-Bunnell will begin pursuing her PhD in Medical Engineering at the Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology program. “Alana has such a bright future ahead of her in medical engineering. It’s an honor to be part of her path to success," said Matt Aven, co-founder and board member of the SBB Research Group Foundation. The SBB Research Group Foundation is honored to have played a role in Mermin-Bunnell’s success. We look forward to continuing to support outstanding students in STEM and helping them achieve their full potential. For eligibility criteria and more information on the Foundation’s STEM scholarship, please visit www.sbbscholarship.org. This story can be found on GlobeNewswire and Yahoo!

Illinois Joining Forces received a $5,000 grant from the SBB Research Group Foundation, which awards monthly grants to support impactful organizations. Illinois Joining Forces is a statewide nonprofit organization that helps service members, veterans, and their families find local services and resources that support growth, wellness, and community. "Our goal is to get upstream from crises such as suicide prevention and awareness, homelessness, and unemployment. We are here to take the call and connect veterans to services before a 'crisis mode' arises," said Brenda Osuch, Interim Executive Director. The Care Coordination Center of Illinois Joining Forces takes requests from all veterans statewide by conducting a comprehensive intake process to determine short-term and long-term support. Some of the most requested needs are emergency financial assistance, including housing, food, and essential utilities. "We wrap our arms around the veteran to make sure we understand their specific needs and connect them to the resources they need," said Jim Dolan, Sr. Director of Development. “It is great that Illinois Joining Forces helps those who served our country find the help that they need,” said Matt Aven, co-founder and board member of the SBB Research Group Foundation. The organization will use the SBB Research Group Foundation grant to support the Care Coordination Center by providing a rapid response fund. This fund will help to avert any urgent crisis that an individual veteran or family member may need. This story can be found on GlobeNewswire

Facing Forward to End Homelessness received a $5,000 grant from the SBB Research Group Foundation, which awards monthly grants to support impactful organizations. Facing Forward to End Homelessness is a nonprofit organization that offers safe and stable housing, whole-family case management, and a suite of supportive services that aid in ending generational cycles of homelessness. "We understand that housing is the first step out of homelessness, and from a foundation of stable housing, someone can improve all other areas of their lives. We strive to be client driven, looking at our clients' capabilities, not their problems," said Melissa Anson, Director of Development. Beyond providing permanent housing, Facing Forward provides a two-generation case-management framework. This framework supports families with children by providing parenting support, academic support, and college and career mentoring. Similarly, people who are homeless and expecting a child or have young children also have access to a specialized program that allows them safe housing, parental assistance, and access to healthcare at a time that is especially crucial to child development. "We are proud to support an organization like Facing Forward to End Homelessness that improves the quality of life for families for generations," said Matt Aven, co-founder and board member of the SBB Research Group Foundation. The organization will use the SBB Research Group Foundation grant to support general operations at Facing Forward, including equipment and supplies for the provision of direct services, staff salaries and training, and administrative and overhead costs. This story can be found on PRWeb and Yahoo!