AAR CEO Pledges $350K to Support STEM Education at Miami Youth Center
MIAMI, Fla. – June 25, 2014 – The Overtown Youth Center hosted a special ceremony today to recognize AAR CORP. and its Chairman and CEO David P. Storch’s $350,000 donation to support the Center’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) program. County Commissioner Audrey Edmonson and City Commissioner Keon Hardemon, AAR’s Storch, and Mourning Family Foundation and Overtown Youth Center founder Alonzo Mourning attended the event to show their support for programs that help raise interest and train inner-city youth for the well-paying careers of today and tomorrow.
The Overtown Youth Center’s (OYC) STEM Summer Program, in partnership with aviation company AAR and Miami Dade County Public School Office of Academic & STEM Transformation, will provide students an opportunity to engage in academically exciting, hands-on projects. This summer OYC will administer an intensive, six-week program that will expose students to the STEM curriculum, while incorporating literacy ensuring academic reinforcement. Through this unique partnership, 11- to-18-year-old students in the Overtown community will be provided with instructional guidance by leading Miami Dade County Public School STEM staff members. The program kicked off today with AAR employees helping students to launch rockets.
“Our mission is to inspire and empower youth and families by fostering hope through enrichment services. None of that happens without the support of people like AAR CEO David Storch,” said Alonzo Mourning. “The three-year commitment and support of STEM programs provided by David and his aerospace company will motivate and inspire children. Today we will teach and feed kids here at the OYC, our goal is to ensure they’re contributing members of society 10 years from now,” Mourning added.
AAR is a leading provider of products and services to the global aerospace and government/defense industries. The company is connected to Miami by its two facilities in the county – Landing Gear Services and Aircraft Services – that employ more than 1,000 residents and directly generate more than $114 million annually in economic impact for the area. The company’s focus on STEM education for youth and community improvement has included giving Miami Central High School juniors and seniors their first glimpse of aviation education and careers during “Taking Flight,” a day-long STEM excursion to AAR’s 226,000-square-foot aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility at Miami International Airport. The donation also funded a recent College Tour for Overtown students and classes for elementary school students taught by the “Nutty Scientist.”
“AAR believes in investing in the communities we work in, and I am really impressed by what is being accomplished by Alonzo and Tina at Overtown,” said Storch. “This type of investment is mutually beneficial as it helps AAR to create a pipeline of aviation talent to make sure we have the workforce we need in the future.”
About AAR
AAR (NYSE: AIR) is a global aerospace and defense contractor that employs more than 6,000 people in 17 countries. Based in Wood Dale, Illinois, AAR supports commercial, government and defense customers through two operating segments: Aviation Services and Technology Products. AAR’s services include inventory management and parts distribution; aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul; and expeditionary airlift. AAR’s products include cargo systems and containers; mobility systems and shelters; advanced aerostructures; and command and control systems. More information can be found at www.aarcorp.com. Media contact: Kathleen Cantillon | [email protected], | 630-227-2081, or email [email protected].
About the Overtown Youth Center
The Overtown Youth Center is a year-round youth development program providing; in-school, after school, summer program services, a parent enrichment program and post-high school support to over 400 students in the Overtown neighborhood and surrounding areas. The program offers a full range of services including educational enrichment, recreational activities, mentoring, literacy initiatives, performing arts, prevention, and life skills/training for at-risk youth. The mission of the Overtown Youth Center (OYC) is to inspire and empower youth and families by fostering hope through enrichment services. Co-founded by real-estate developer Martin Z. Marguiles and former NBA star, Alonzo Mourning, the Overtown Youth Center is a youth center located in the heart of Miami’s inner city. Since 2003, OYC has provided services to youth from in grades 2 through 12. ??OYC’s ultimate goal is that 100 percent of its students become positive contributing citizens of our community. For more information, visit www.overtownyouth.org.
