Northwest Federal Credit Union found a creative way to celebrate their 75th anniversary by hosting a STEM Kit packing event with their partners at the Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation, to pack and deliver 200 STEM kits for kids throughout the community. Several Credit Union employees joined the Science Center team to carefully assemble 200 STEM kits with two fun experiments, “Slushy Slime and “E-Greeting” so local students can gain new learning experiences designed to enhance their Science, Technology, Education, and Math subjects.

The kits were put together on November 3rd at the NWFCU Herndon Corporate Office with Brian Van de Graff, meteorologist with ABC affiliate, WJLA Channel 7, on hand to interview and share the good news on “Good Morning Washington”.

“We’ve been celebrating our 75th Anniversary all year long and since November is our actual anniversary month, we wanted to do something special with some of our community partners.” said Jeff Bentley, Northwest President, and CEO. “Our employees are given 24-hours of paid volunteer time each year and they jumped at the opportunity to help assemble these kits, designed and organized by Children’s Science Center Lab and for distribution by Cornerstones to Cedar Ridge children and their families.”

“We love the partnership with Northwest, and it benefits us so much to have the extra hands to make STEM learning fun,” said Nene Spivy, Executive Director of the Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation. “It is so important to get kids interested in STEM early and often. It’s about fueling our future workforce and giving kids confidence and skills in these subjects that can get hard over the years.”

The STEM kits were delivered to Cedar Ridge Apartments on November 30th, with the help of another partner, Cornerstones. “Cornerstones deeply values community collaborations, like this special event opportunity with Northwest Federal Credit Union and the Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation,” offers Kerrie Wilson, CEO of Cornerstones. “Through our children and youth enrichment programs, we know that community-based mentoring not only increases a student’s math, literacy, science, and technology skills but also helps children develop positive and safe relationships with adults in our community. We are grateful to the Credit Union’s employees and the staff at the Science Center Lab for their partnership in service to children and their families in the Cedar Ridge neighborhood.”