Silicon Valley is the center of technology and innovation, and the San Francisco 49ers are no exception. The Niners launched The Sport and Stem Alliance on Tuesday, May 9 at Levi’s Stadium. The Alliance consists of Beyond Sport, the 49ers Foundation, Chevron, and Verizon, and per the 49ers, it is “a coalition of like-minded, leading global organizations driving innovation in STEM education through sports.”
“To have the home of the 49ers as the backdrop for Beyond Innovation’s second-ever convening was special for the 49ers Foundation, which has worked for years to introduce innovative approaches to STEM education through efforts like the 49ers STEM Leadership Institute,” said Joanne Pasternack, Vice President and Executive Director of the 49ers Foundation. “The Sport and STEM Alliance will be a force for change as we look for ways to better prepare students for STEM-based careers and the 49ers Foundation is honored to be considered a founding member alongside Beyond Sport, Chevron and Verizon.”
The partnership was announced at Beyond Innovation, which was a full day event attended by worldwide leaders in sports, technology and education. Safety Eric Reid joined the group to talk about STEM Education, while also guiding everyone in an exercise building footballs with scissors and tape, which is part of the 49ers STEAM Education Program.
“When the 49ers won Beyond Sport’s Team of the Year in 2015, we took a closer look at what more sport could do in STEM through its ability to inspire young minds, to offer a wealth of practical and meaningful applications of the STEM subjects; and its remarkable capacity to engage corporates,” said Nick Keller, Founder and President of Beyond Sport. “Beyond Innovation was the ideal launch pad for the Sport and STEM Alliance, and we’ve already seen commitments from some of the largest businesses in the world to be part of this unique opportunity to leverage sport in the pursuit of engaging, effective and impactful approaches to STEM education.”
Additional partners for the Alliance include Two Circles, UNICEF, EverFi, Direct TV, HP and Chelsea Football Club Foundation.
I’d like to see them use one of those tape and scissors footballs in a game…maybe. Go Niners!
*All photos provided by 49ers.com
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