FIRST® & i.am/Angel Foundation Announce Fundraising Gala on December 6 in Miami Beach during Art Basel
will.i.am & Dean Kamen host onstage discussion about the transformative power of STEM literacy and skill building for young people
To purchase Gala tickets, visit firstinspires.org/gala
will.i.am and Dean Kamen meet with FIRST teams at FIRST Championship.
Miami Beach, FL (September 22, 2023) -- FIRST® and i.am/Angel foundation are proud to announce their collaboration spotlighting the vital role that STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education plays in today’s youth, preparing them for a brighter future. This exciting partnership will be on display at a spectacular fundraising gala co-hosted by will.i.am, founder of the i.am/Angel Foundation, and Dean Kamen, founder of FIRST. The event will take place at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel on Wednesday, December 6, coinciding with the renowned Art Basel Miami.
"This year's gala honors the outstanding work that students are doing in FIRST and highlights the critical need to get more students involved in these life-changing programs,” Kamen said. “We’re excited to showcase the connection between STEM and the arts, celebrating the intrinsic interconnectedness of these disciplines."
The SoBe gala promises to be a night to remember, kicking off with a star-studded red carpet as guests arrive for an exhilarating robotics-inspired cocktail hour, where guests are invited to test-drive robots. The evening will feature a captivating silent auction, showcasing luxury, beauty, sports, and entertainment items.
Following the cocktail hour, attendees will savor a delectable, seated dinner and be treated to compelling content, headlined by will.i.am and Dean Kamen, engaging in an on-stage fireside chat about the current state of STEM education for young people, and its impact on our future.
In a special tribute, the gala will recognize Ursula Burns for her unwavering commitment to FIRST. Beyond her continued support as a Board Member since 2000, Burns has graciously shared her time with students at FIRST events and as a mentor to FIRST Alumni in their careers. She brings extensive international experience, having led large companies through technological transformations within their industries. From 2009 to 2016, she served as the CEO of Xerox Corporation, where she also held the position of Chairman of the Board from 2010 to 2017. Under her leadership, Xerox evolved from a global leader in document technology into the world's most diversified business services company, serving enterprises and governments of all sizes.
For more information on the gala, contact gala@firstinspires.org or call 603.206.6000
About FIRST®
FIRST® is a robotics community that prepares young people for the future through a suite of inclusive, team-based robotics programs for ages 4-18 (PreK-12) that can be facilitated in school or in structured afterschool programs. Boosted by a global support system of volunteers, educators, and sponsors that include over 200 of the Fortune 500 companies, teams operate under a signature set of FIRST Core Values to conduct research, fundraise, design, build, and showcase their achievements during annual challenges. An international not-for-profit organization founded by accomplished inventor Dean Kamen in 1989, FIRST has a proven impact on STEM learning, interest, and skill-building well beyond high school. Participants and alumni of FIRST programs gain access to education and career discovery opportunities, connections to exclusive scholarships and employers, and a place in the FIRST community for life. Learn more at firstinspires.org.
About i.am/Angel Foundation
As part of his commitment to philanthropy, will.i.am launched the i.am Angel Foundation in 2009 to TRANS4M lives through education, inspiration and opportunity. The foundation administers charitable activities and programs targeted towards providing college scholarships (i.am scholarship), college preparation (i.am College Track), and opportunities in STEAM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics). The i.am Angel Foundation is especially committed to transforming will.i.am’s hometown of Boyle Heights in East Los Angeles. Boyle Heights is a predominantly low-income, working class, immigrant community that is rich in culture and potential, but struggling with a lack of resources and opportunities. The i.am/Angel Foundation strives to turn Boyle Heights into a model for other communities around the world. Visit i.am/Angel Foundation for more information.