Edit: I am overwhelmed by the incredible support our young FemMakers have received from this amazing community! With three weeks remaining in our fundraising campaign, we(Ms Heller, Ms Elwood, and I) decided to raise our goal to $10,000. I want to emphasize that our original $5,000 goal will ensure that every FemMaker can attend the Summit free of charge.

Any donations exceeding this amount will go directly toward sustaining our program for the upcoming year, ensuring that we can continue providing this life-changing experience to next year’s students as well. This additional fundraising will help us navigate the ongoing budget cuts in education and equity, and may also be used for materials and supplies to complete this year’s projects.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your ongoing support and generosity—it truly means the world to us and these inspiring young girls!

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We need your help to make this incredible opportunity a reality for our girls!

Our FemMakers after-school program has inspired and empowered young girls to explore the world of engineering, technology, and design. This year, our students have a unique opportunity to attend the Femineers Summit at Cal Poly Pomona, one of the top engineering universities in the country. Our FemMakers will showcase their projects, connect with students from all over California, and be exposed to creativity and innovations in engineering. But to make this happen, we need your support to raise $5,000, which will cover the student family portion of the trip.

Why This Trip Matters:

The Femineers Summit is more than just a field trip—it’s a gateway to the future for our students. This summit will allow them to:

Showcase their work: Our students have been working hard on amazing projects—robotics, coding, building circuits, and designing solutions to real-world problems. They’ll have the chance to present their work and be inspired by other schools.

Visit top universities: This trip includes tours of Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, two of the best engineering schools in the nation. Our students live 4-8 hours away from these schools and may never get another opportunity to visit.

Explore makerspaces: Students will tour Cal Poly SLO's cutting-edge makerspaces, where they can see firsthand the tools and resources that will be available to them as they continue their STEM education.

Become inspired: This trip will spark even more interest in STEM careers and open their eyes to the possibilities that lie ahead. It’s a chance to see the tangible results of the skills they are developing in the FemMakers program.

If we raise $5,000, every student will be able to attend this life-changing trip 100% free. Your support will cover travel, accommodations, meals, and the event fee, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to participate regardless of their family’s financial situation.

About FemMakers:

FemMakers is an after-school program designed to empower young girls to explore the world of engineering, technology, and design. Our program provides girls with hands-on experiences in coding, robotics, house building, and basic circuit design. Through mentorship, teamwork, and a hands-on makerspace, we equip girls with the skills and confidence to pursue careers in STEM fields.

Our mission started three years ago when we realized there were far too few girls in our engineering classes. Inspired to change that, we joined the Femineers program and ignited a passion for engineering in our students. After two successful years, we created FemMakers to continue that work and offer an even richer learning experience by incorporating a makerspace into our classroom, where students collaborate, design, and build in a creative environment.

Why We Need Your Help:

Due to the school district’s budget deficits, this is the first year we are reaching out to the public for support. We’ve always worked hard to provide the best opportunities for our students, but this year, we need your help to make this trip possible.

Your donation will directly impact these students' futures by providing them with the chance to:

Gain exposure to top engineering universities.

Present their work to a wider audience at the collegiate level.

Continue to grow in confidence and ability as they explore their potential in STEM fields.

If we surpass our goal, any excess proceeds will go toward continuing to support FemMakers for the rest of this year and future years, ensuring that more girls have access to high-quality STEM education, mentorship, and opportunities.

How You Can Help:

Donate: Every little bit helps. Whether it’s $5, $50, or more, your contribution will bring us one step closer to our goal.

Share: Help us spread the word! Share this campaign with your friends, family, and networks.

Encourage others: If you know someone passionate about empowering young girls in STEM, please let them know about this opportunity to support these future engineers!

Thank You!

We are beyond excited for our FemMakers to take this next step in their STEM journeys, and we can't do it without you. Your generosity will make an unforgettable impact on their lives and futures.

Let’s help these young girls make history—donate today!