Charity Gives $1 Million For Early Childhood STEM Eduction

CASTRO VALLEY, CA - A charity is giving $1 million to Cal State University East Bay to start an endowment for teaching science, technology, engineering and math, university officials announced last month. The money will be directed at educating kindergarten through third grade students, according to university officials.

The funds are expected to allow university staff to build relationships with East Bay schools, teachers and parents.

It will also prepare future teachers to improve STEM education, according to university officials.

The gift is coming from the Malavalli Family Foundation, which is guided by the values of Vijaya and Kumar Malavalli, according to a website describing their philanthropy. Kumar is a technology entrepreneur, university officials said.

“I believe STEM education lays a strong foundation for students to succeed throughout their journey, all the way from kindergarten to the university, and for them to become engaged members of their communities,” Kumar Malavalli said in a statement.

“We are grateful and excited to partner with a visionary entrepreneur such as Mr. Malavalli,” university President Leroy Morishita said. “His innovative, pioneering work in the technology industry exemplifies what we hope to offer our students and what we want them to be inspired to achieve,” Morishita added.

Research shows that math literacy in the early life of a child is key to a young person’s success in STEM fields, a statement by the university’s Interim Associate Vice President for Research and Professional Development Stephanie Couch said. “One of the most critical things we can do, especially for girls, is to make sure, at a very young age, that they have access to interesting and engaging STEM learning opportunities and positive role models,” Ranjini Malavalli, the foundation’s director of giving, said in a statement.

--Bay City News