Ashley Furniture Industries and the Ronald & Joyce Wanek Foundation have generously donated more than $226,000 in grants to support robotics education in schools near Ashley’s advanced manufacturing facilities. The funds will be used to implement and enhance robotics programs, as well as to purchase age-specific VEX Robotics equipment to promote STEM education.

The donation will benefit schools in Mississippi, Wisconsin, and Minnesota during the 2023-2024 school year. This initiative aims to provide students with engaging and innovative learning opportunities, allowing them to develop critical skills in science, technology, engineering, and math.

Ashley Furniture and the Ronald & Joyce Wanek Foundation have been strong advocates for VEX Robotics since 2017, with a total donation of over $891,000 in grants to K-12 and post-secondary education. VEX Robotics equipment is not limited to classroom use; it also supports extracurricular competition programs where students design and build robots for game-based engineering challenges.

The schools receiving funds for the upcoming school year include Alma Area Schools, Arcadia School District, Black River Falls School District, and several others near Ashley’s Wisconsin facility. Additionally, schools in the New Albany School District, Pontotoc County School District, and South Tippah School District near Ashley’s Mississippi facility will benefit from the grants. Lewiston-Altura Public Schools, St. John’s Lutheran School, and St. Matthew’s Lutheran School in Minnesota will also receive funding.

This substantial donation from Ashley Furniture and the Ronald & Joyce Wanek Foundation demonstrates their commitment to promoting STEM education and providing students with the tools they need to succeed in a rapidly advancing technological world. By investing in robotics education, these organizations are empowering the next generation of innovators and problem solvers.

Sources:
– Ashley Furniture Inds.
– Ronald & Joyce Wanek Foundation