The Boeing Co. has donated $10.6 million to 20 nonprofits working to address racial equity and social justice in the United States. Part of a multi-year commitment that includes a mix of local and national grants, the funding is aimed at increasing the number of minority and underserved students pursuing science, technology, engineering and math education (STEM) and diversifying the aerospace talent pipeline, as well as addressing criminal justice reform and health care gaps in underserved and minority communities.
In Alabama, two organizations are receiving grants.
The Equal Justice Initiative, in Montgomery, is receiving $1 million to continue its public education and policy research efforts that address criminal justice reform. The EJI is a non-profit organization that provides legal representation to prisoners who may have been wrongly convicted of crimes, poor prisoners without effective representation and others that have been denied a fair trial.
Girls Inc. of Huntsville will receive $120,000 to fund Operation SMART, a hands-on STEM learning program that will reach more than 700 girls of color in the Huntsville area. Through hands-on activities, the girls explore and solve problems, while also learning from women and men pursuing careers in STEM fields.
“At Boeing, we acknowledge the toll that systemic racism and social injustice have had on people of color, particularly black communities here in the United States,” said David Calhoun, Boeing president and CEO. “As we work internally to confront these issues, we also remain focused on addressing the causes and impacts of racism and social inequality in the communities where our employees live and work. With today’s financial commitment to this group of nonprofit partners, we are hopeful that together, we can begin to make real advancements in our ongoing pursuit of equality.”
For more than five years, Boeing has invested more than $120 million to support underserved communities.
Boeing has a major presence in Alabama, with some 2,900 employees working in aerospace and defense.
