MASSACHUSETTS SCIENCE CENTER
400 West Cummings Park, Suite 1725-128
Woburn, MA 01801
781-935-9925
MassScienceCenter@gmail.com
www.TopSecretScience.org www.Top SecretSpartans.org
www.TopSecretChefs.org
Dear Supporters,
There is a crisis in America that will have a lasting effect on our youth and communities. Our children are eating poorly, not getting enough exercise and spending too much time on electronics. There are 10 million children that are obese, 30 million children that don’t exercise for at least an hour a day and 50 million children that spend 7 hours a day using electronic devices. While there are plenty of temporary fixes and as many schools adopt wellness programs to exercise more and to eat better the statistics continue to worsen every year.
For the past 24 years the Massachusetts Science Center (MSC) has worked hands-on delivering free or low cost customized school STEM, cooking, wellness and fitness curriculum programs to over 1.2 million children at over 400 schools here in New England.
The goal of the MSC is to offer a free year round hands-on wellness program for students from Boston area public elementary schools (K-5). In this program students will attend a class once a week for one year and two weeks in the summer. A wide range of curriculum based wellness and fitness programs will be taught by local trainers and experts from some of the largest companies in Massachusetts. Program educators will generously volunteer their time and expertise for this endeavor.
These exciting programs are the best learning opportunities for providing essential hands-on curriculum development especially at schools with at-risk, and economically disadvantaged students. Keeping our target demographics’ capacity at the forefront of our strategy, all of our classes are provided at no cost. Students will receive a comprehensive curriculum that exceeds state and national standards, extensive hands-on materials, motivational systems and evaluation metrics unique to any other prior training. Unlike most school nutrition and wellness programs which research show offer very limited long term increases in wellness knowledge, attitude and skill levels, the MSC will make a long-term impact on our students and help them increase their knowledge and enthusiasm for overall well-being while preparing them for their future.
Utilizing an innovative approach, the MSC helps children understand education differently. The MSC places an emphasis on inquiry and fun by offering spectacular, yet simple, curriculum based programs including school enrichment, after-school programs, professional teacher workshops, and special events.
This unique programming not only encourages our youth participants to enjoy learning it also produces incredible measurable results. Notable pilot program achievements from the 2018-2019 academic year in the Boston area include:
- A 92% increase in desired fitness and health outcomes
- A 64% reduction in electronic device usage
- A 78% decrease in obesity
- A 45% increase in grades
Upon analysis, we have found that our 2018-2019 pilot program reiterates the effectiveness of our results oriented, comprehensive, school fitness, nutrition and wellness solution. Our mission is to engage every eligible student in the Boston area and to dramatically increase their overall health and well-being.
The MSC respectfully requests financial support from individuals and corporations to help provide free interactive wellness education to 1,000 at-risk and disadvantaged students attending schools in the Boston area. The MSC will use this 100% of this generous support for funding program materials used during our wellness classes.
Wellness is an active process and the understanding and values established in the elementary school years completely shape a child’s development as an adult. Our evaluation will be based on pre and post testing, logic models, surveys, A.S.K. (Attitude, Skill & Knowledge analysis), and concept maps that illuminate the program’s continued impact.
With your individual or corporate support, you will help enable over 1,000 local students to participate in the free hands-on classes, and in turn increase their chances of future success in school and beyond. We are compelled to request your support to increase our impact on students by introducing and improving their exposure to wellness activities. We hope that you can see the value in empowering our youth to take action by implementing long-term, positive changes for themselves and their schools.
I invite you to learn more about the MSC on our website – www.TopSecretSpartans.org. Given the interest in the expansion and enhancement of educational opportunities, we believe there is a strong alignment between our interests and we would be honored to submit a complete proposal for consideration if necessary. Thank you for your time and review of this funding request.
Sincerely,
Michael Bergen
Executive Director