Partnership for Innovation in Education Receives Support for PIE CaseLAB® from AstraZeneca’s ACT on Health Equity: Community Solutions Challenge
CINCINNATI– (November 20, 2021)– Partnership for Innovation in Education (PIE) was awarded funds through AstraZeneca’s inaugural ACT on Health Equity: Community Solutions Challenge to support the PIE CaseLAB® Career Academy. Through this support, local high school students will participate in transformational education programs that deliver industry credentials and certifications in emerging industries such as transportation, information technology, health care, logistics, drone engineering, forensics, advanced manufacturing, and cybersecurity. Through its recent RemotEDx Ohio Department of Education Grant, PIE programs allow underserved populations to better learn and anticipate their skill sets using critical thinking and problem-solving strategies.
This award stems from AstraZeneca’s commitment to advance health equity through collaboration with organizations serving local communities. PIE CaseLAB® became the first nonprofit organization to create in-person and virtual learning programs approved for industry skill credits allowing underserved students to graduate into high value occupations. The program also features collaborative and leadership skillsets while offering industry skill accreditation emerging Science Technology Engineering Math (STEM) career pathways.
“We are honored to have received this $25,000 grant from AstraZeneca as part of the ACT on Health Equity: Community Solutions Challenge. Our programs help underserved students gain confidence and career readiness skills to help them envision their own career pathways,” said Mary Welsh Schlueter, CEO and founder of PIE.
Through the ACT on Health Equity: Community Solutions Challenge, AstraZeneca has awarded 30 nonprofit organizations across the country to support programs focused on community health and wellbeing and youth STEM education and career readiness. The organizations awarded represent a variety of innovative programs providing a wide range of services that support underserved communities to improve health outcomes.
“AstraZeneca is committed to advancing health equity in the US and we realize that this can only be done in partnership with local community leaders. The Community Solutions Challenge is a deliberate addition to our giving strategy which we believe is fundamental to achieving greater impact. We must work together at the community level in our schools, homes and communities to address the factors that contribute to inequities,” said Martha Orzechowski, Head, US Advocacy & Alliance, Corporate Affairs. “This distinguished group of organizations is leading change and making a direct, positive impact on underserved populations in all regions of the country.”
For more information on other programs awarded, please visit the AstraZeneca US Blog.
About PIE CaseLAB®
Partnership for Innovation in Education (PIE) develops transformational educational and industry skill certification tools preparing the 21st century workforce for success in the global marketplace. With its CaseLab® program, PIE features first-ever career simulation and mentoring alliances with business, education and arts organizations, providing hands-on learning in the K-16 classroom. PIE is a 501c3 nonprofit, tax-exempt organization, awarded the GuideStar Nonprofit “Platinum” Ranking and is an Ohio School District Partner. For more information, visit http://stem.piemedia.org or follow @PIE_Innovation on Twitter.