March and April are busy months for the Chamber Foundation. Find Your Future takes place on March 24, and Math for Life is held March 24 through April 8.
Find Your Future
Find Your Future is a half-day career event for students and their parents. Find Your Future believes that it is just as important to know what you don’t want to pursue career-wise, as knowing what you do want to pursue. Find Your Future helps students pinpoint a career path that excites and motivates them. One way to think about these programs is that they are stepping stones that prepare individuals from middle school all the way through to adulthood to enter the world of work and business, and once they are established in their career, they are connected back to the world of learning.
David Schaffert, President/CEO of the Chamber said, “With hard work and opportunity Thurston County students can achieve their dreams. The students need to supply the hard work; we need to provide them with the opportunity.”
Math for Life
Math for Life, in partnership with local school districts, promotes real-life math skills. Local businesses sponsor the program. Students from area school districts visit participating businesses to solve practical math problems. After visiting several businesses and answering math problems, students are eligible for prizes.
“Businesses are looking for ways to engage with kids – as well as the community – and Math for Life allows them to do that,” said Schaffert. “Parents love the program because it reinforces what their children learn in school by providing real-life examples.”
This year, the Chamber is capping the number of businesses participating at 100, so businesses need to sign up soon.
“This is a chance to get involved in the community, support education and our children and it’s an unbelievable advertising opportunity,” said Dirk Farrar, a financial advisor at Edward Jones, a Math for Life participant. “We provide a venue for as many as 700 kids to see the importance of math in daily life. We also enjoy the face to face interaction with the kids. They ask questions that help them realize that math is something they’ll use for the rest of their lives,” he said.
Here is how the program works: Students receive a Math for Life map, which they take to different Chamber member businesses who’ve signed up for the program. Businesses interact with students as they ask grade-level math questions. Students get their map stamped at each location. When they submit their completed map to their teacher, they qualify for a chance to win great prizes.
If you are interested in becoming a Math for Life business or a participant or sponsor at Find Your Future, please contact the Chamber at 360.357.3362 or click here.
