TD Bank Group Donates $1 Million to Actua’s National Girls Program to help young girls prepare for their future
Toronto, ON - May 29, 2019
Today, Actua announced a $1 million donation over three years from TD to Actua’s National Girls Program. TD’s donation will support the engagement of over 150,000 girls across Canada in digital skills and confidence building experiences. The announcement took place at a special workshop for 100 girls in celebration of Toronto’s Digital Literacy Week, held in partnership between TD, Actua and its network member Engineering Outreach at the University of Toronto.
“We don’t know what the jobs of tomorrow will be, but we do know that they will require digital skills and literacy, and we need to ensure girls have increased opportunities to develop these critical skills,” said Jennifer Flanagan, CEO of Actua. “That’s why today’s funding announcement by TD in our National Girls Program is so important.”
Today’s workshop event demonstrated how Actua’s network is helping girls develop these skills, introducing them to computer science concepts through engineering, design and coding to make apps for social change. With the support of instructors and mentors from TD’s Women in Technology group, the girls brainstormed ways computer science can help solve a problem in their local community and used technology to bring their ideas to life through app development.
“Math and reading literacy are known to be building blocks for lifelong learning. Research shows that gaining these skills in the earliest school years can influence continues success throughout life.” says Andrea Barrack, Global Head, Sustainability and Corporate Citizenship, TD. “That’s why through The Ready Commitment, we’re committed to supporting initiatives like Actua’s National Girls Program that are helping kids feel more confident about their future.”
Math and literacy are known to be building blocks for lifelong learning. Research shows that gaining these skills in the earliest school years can influence continues success throughout life. That's why we're committed to supporting initiatives like Actua's National Girls Program that are helping kids feel more confident about their future.
Actua’s National Girls Program inspires young women to fulfill their role as leaders in STEM and encourages their engagement in STEM fields like engineering and computer science where women continue to be vastly underrepresented. In addition to Actua’s regular co-ed programs, Actua’s 38 network members engage 12,000 girls annually in high-impact, all-girl programs. These programs provide girls with safe spaces to design, build, experiment, and explore in an all-girls environment, with women as role models and mentors who break down stereotypes about women in STEM. Girls programs offered by our network members include after school clubs, camps, conferences, career fairs and special events with female mentors.
Contact Information
Kaitlynn Carroll
Communications and Projects Manager, Actua
111 Murray Street, Ottawa ON
Office: (613) 234-4137
Email: kaitlynn.carroll@actua.ca
Web: www.actua.ca