The year 2013 started on a great note for us here at The Harris Foundation and continues to show great promise. This spring, our Dare to Dream (DTD) program was honored by the Texas Association of Partners in Education (TAPE) with a gold award for its community STEM partnership with Houston Independent School District. TAPE is a 30-year old organization that provides leadership and expertise for schools, families, businesses and communities to build partnerships that enhace student success.
We are just a few weeks away from the start of our ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp (EMBHSSC) season. This summer we have camps hosted at twenty different universities across the nation. I look forward to this time of year solely for the opportunity to visit the camps and see first-hand the excitement and enthusiasm these campers exhibit when they realize the wonders that STEM education has to offer.
I am also pleased to share that through our partnership with the Council of Great City Schools, we recently awarded four deserving seniors with the 2013 ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Math and Science Scholars Award. The scholarship was created to help underrepresented students pursue science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) studies and increase diversity in the STEM workforce.
In health, our RWJF Community Health Leaders have been making headlines for their continued contributions to Americans' health and wellbeing. For example, Fred Brason, a 2012 RWJF-CHL awardee and founder of the Project Lazarus, was mentioned in the White House National Drug Control Strategy Plan for his work in pioneering a successful drug rehabilitation program in his community. The work of Project Lazarus is sure to make a positive impact on America for years to come.
In wealth, we were pleased to receive the news that our partnership to educate students in financial literacy will continue this fall! I believe that teaching young people about the merits of applied mathematics is critical to developing productive citizens and future entrepreneurs.
And just a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity of participating on a panel at the Milken Institute 2013 Global Conference in Los Angeles, CA. The conference convenes some of the world's most extraordinary people to explore solutions to today's most pressing challenges in business, health, government and education. And this week, I spoke at the Black Enterprise/Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation forum on STEM education in Columbus, Ohio.
Where others see problems, The Harris Foundation works to seek solutions. It was an honor to be invited to these conferences to gain insight and share our commitment to guide the path for the next generation.
Bernard A. Harris, Jr.
President and Founder
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