United to donate $1.25m for STEM projects around US classrooms

Major US airline United Airlines is set to donate $1.25m to DonorsChoose.org to support aviation and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (Stem) projects in classrooms across the airline’s seven hub markets across the US. The fund will support all aviation classroom projects currently listed by the education funding portal, and any remaining funds will be utilized to finance new aviation and STEM-focused projects. Donors Choose, founded in 2000, allows educators to set up project or class donation pages, not unlike modern charity collection sites, and advertise online to interested parties. The organisation said it aimed to maintain the integrity of donations by validating all requests, buying each item, and distributing resources directly to verified educators. Josh Earnest, United’s Senior VP, and Chief Communications Officer highlighted how this programme will inspire the next set of aviation trainees. Earnest said: “Whether it’s using model planes to teach middle schoolers the dynamics of flight or taking a field trip to see how a simulator works, we’re proud to help teachers get the resources to inspire the next generation of aviators. We’re proud to team up with DonorsChoose to support teachers who are doing incredible work and changing the lives of students around the country.”<br/>