Boys & Girls Clubs in Fort Smith and Benton County Celebrate Grand Openings of Two Cox Innovation Labs Made Possible by $40,000 Awarded by Cox Communications
The Fort Smith and Benton County Boys & Girls Clubs today celebrated the launch of two technology-filled Innovation Labs made possible by a $40,000-grant from Cox Communications that will benefit hundreds of Arkansas children the clubs serve every week.
The Innovation Labs are the cornerstone of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Club Tech program. In addition to helping close the digital divide for kids without commuter access or internet at home, the grants promote STEM programming, provide training for club staff, and give students access to curriculum to advance their computer literacy skills.
The lab renovations at the Fort Smith Goldtrap-Gardner Boys & Girls Club (8800 Dallas Street, Fort Smith) and Benton County Bentonville Boys & Girls Club (2801 NE Walker Street, Bentonville) include:
- New state-of-the-art laptops
- Upgrades of internet and electrical wiring for eSports, 3D printers and coding for robotics
- Custom art and tables designed by local artists along with new carpeting and paint
- Making the labs adaptable for an outside experience
Beth Presley, CEO of the Fort Smith Boys & Girls Club: “The completely redesigned Cox Innovation Lab provides new and innovative technology to bridge the digital divide that exists for many of the young people in our community. Filled with technology designed to bring kids the best experiences that STEAM has to offer, all 2,000 of our members can explore the 3D printers, robots, and design stations and work together to build their science understanding and the life skills necessary for prosperous futures. We are so grateful for this amazing gift from Cox.”
Matt Taliaferro, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Benton County: “Our new COX Innovation Lab will completely transform how the kids learn in our Club by not only creating a brand new FUN learning environment but also introduce them to new STEAM concepts previously not possible. Our kids will benefit for years to come as they learn to love science and create new skill sets. We cannot thank COX enough for this amazing opportunity.”
Tina Gabbard, Cox Market Vice President for Arkansas: “We’ve made great strides expanding Arkansas broadband access through longstanding partnerships with community groups like the Boys & Girls Clubs and affordable internet programs like Cox’s ConnectAssist and Connect2compete. We’re committed to ensuring our children are connected at school, at home and right here at the Boys & Girls Club where so many children spend their afternoons. Cox Innovation Labs allow students to access exciting tools to advance their tech-literacy skills and explore unknown possibilities.”
The newly announced Innovation Lab renovations are in addition to a $20K upgrade to Fort Smith’s Boys & Girls Club Evans Unit in 2022 and two $5,000 grants awarded in August by Cox Charities employee-funded investment grant program which donated a total of $80K to 16 non-profits in Fort Smith, Northwest Arkansas, Harrison, Eureka Springs and other Arkansas communities inside the Cox service areas.
About Cox Communications
Cox Communications is committed to creating meaningful moments of human connection through technology. As the largest private broadband company in America, we operate fiber broadband networks in more than 30 states, providing connections and advanced cloud and managed IT services for nearly seven million homes and businesses nationwide. We’re dedicated to empowering others to build a better future and celebrate diverse products, people, suppliers, communities and the characteristics that make each one unique. Cox Communications is the largest division of Cox Enterprises, a family-owned business founded in 1898 by Governor James M. Cox.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For 160 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA.org) has provided a safe place for kids and teens to learn and grow. Clubs offer caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Boys & Girls Clubs programming promotes academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. More than 4,700 Clubs serve 4.6 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of America on Facebook and X.
