The 3M Foundation awarded grants totaling $262,000 to 34 U.S. schools as part of its 3M Ingenuity Grant program. The program recognizes teacher teams working across grade levels and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) disciplines to spark student interest and achievement. The grant, which is offered to public schools in 3M communities and targets grades 1–8, provides funds to purchase materials to bring classroom projects to life.
Grant recipients were selected based on an application process that asked teachers to address how their idea aligns with goals for the school district, school and classroom; teacher collaboration across grades and disciplines, and their ideas to spark student interest and drive achievement by building connections to the world beyond the classroom.
“This year, collaboration and integration are the key drivers of the 3M Ingenuity Grants,” said Barbara Kaufmann, 3M Manager, Education Giving. “At 3M, the STEM disciplines work together to drive innovation and the development of new products and technology, and we wanted to encourage teachers from various disciplines to work together to bring innovative teaching methods into their classrooms. We are pleased to help teachers create new and exciting learning opportunities.”
Since 2003, 3M has awarded 1,011 Ingenuity Grants, giving more than $3.2 million dollars to schools in 3M communities. The grant program is just one component of 3M’s charitable giving to educational causes. As a company built on a culture of innovation, 3M has a keen awareness of the importance of fostering the next generation of innovators, and works to help create future scientists by supporting students and educators in STEM fields.
The 2013 Ingenuity Grant recipients are:
| School Name | 3M Location | |
| Cedar Ridge Middle | Decatur, Ala. | |
| Carver Magnet Elementary | Little Rock, Ark. | |
| Corona Fundamental Intermediate | Corona, Calif. | |
| Somers Elementary | Enfield, Conn. | |
| Israel Putnam School | Meriden, Conn. | |
| Washington Middle | Meriden, Conn. | |
| Dag Hammarskjold Middle | Wallingford, Conn. | |
| James Moran Middle | Wallingford, Conn. | |
| Gauger-Cobbs Middle | Newark, Del. | |
| Thurgood Marshall Elementary | Newark, Del. | |
| Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy | Atlanta, Ga. | |
| Zionsville Middle | Indianapolis, Ind. | |
| Fairmont High | Fairmont, Minn. | |
| Hutchinson West Elementary | Hutchinson, Minn. | |
| Park Elementary | Hutchinson, Minn. | |
| Jefferson Elementary | New Ulm, Minn. | |
| Century Middle | Park Rapids, Minn. | |
| Oltman Middle | Cottage Grove, Minn. | |
| Jefferson Junior | Columbia, Mo. | |
| JP Case Middle | Flemington, N.J. | |
| Granite Falls Middle | Conover, N.C. | |
| Lyle Creek Elementary | Conover, N.C. | |
| Little Miami Junior | Cincinnati, Ohio | |
| Northley Middle | Aston, Pa. | |
| Robert E. Cashion Elementary | Greenville, S.C. | |
| Holgate Middle | Aberdeen, S.D. | |
| Simmons Middle | Aberdeen, S.D. | |
| Elkton Elementary | Brookings, S.D. | |
| Bagdad Elementary | Austin, Texas | |
| Burnet Middle | Austin, Texas | |
| Henderson Middle | El Paso, Texas | |
| Woodward Middle | Bainbridge Island, Wash. | |
| Menomonie Middle | Menomonie, Wis. | |
| Wakanda Elementary | Menomonie, Wis. | |
About 3M Community Giving
3M is not only a company that creates; it is a company that cares. 3M Community Giving is helping to improve lives in communities around the world. Celebrating 60 years of formalized giving, 3M and the 3M Foundation have invested more than $1.2 billion in cash and products to education and charitable organizations. These donations were bolstered by thousands of employee and retiree volunteers. In 2012, 3M awarded $56.6 million to non-profit organizations. For more information, visit www.3Mgiving.com and follow on Twitter @3Mgiving.
3M is a trademark of 3M.
3MJacqueline Berry, 651-733-3611
