Communications of the ACM
Amd and Bgca to Offer Game Technology Program to Hundreds of Youth
AMD announced Monday (May 17) that the AMD Foundation has awarded a $115,000 grant to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) to implement Club Tech: Game Tech, a digital game development program, in four new Boys & Girls Clubs across the United States. AMD also will provide $60,000 to install four technology centers in these same Clubs in Washington, DC; Orlando, FL; Bellevue, WA; and Sunnyvale, CA. The grant supports AMD's signature education initiative, AMD Changing the Game, a program that encourages teens to learn critical STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills and become more globally conscious citizens by developing digital games with social content. By the end of 2012, AMD and the BGCA plan to implement the Club Tech: Game Tech program at 14 Clubs, located primarily in AMD site communities in the United States.
Through its Club Tech initiative, and the Game Tech program in particular, BGCA provides Club members the opportunity to experience the digital arts and enhance their technology skills in order to develop creative and marketable workforce skills. Hundreds of Club members are expected to participate in the Game Tech program.
"Technology programming offers a unique opportunity to extend learning and encourages youth to be actively engaged in determining their successful futures. There are clear indications this occurred during our Game Tech pilots," says Judith J. Pickens, BGCA's senior vice president, Program & Youth Development Services. "It was only natural to seek to expand this gaming program to new Clubs, and we're grateful to AMD for helping us broaden this activity to reach more youth across the nation."
"AMD is proud to expand our relationship with BGCA, helping them bring the Club Tech: Game Tech program to new Club sites," aid Allyson Peerman, president, AMD Foundation. "Not only will Game Tech help enhance educational and life skills for participating Club members, but it will also contribute further to BGCA's legacy of providing hope and opportunity to America's youth."
Game Tech is a multi-unit program that guides Club members through the design process of creating computer games, and is led by local Boys & Girls Club professionals using a platform called Scratch. Club members gain valuable STEM skills in the process.
AMD Changing the Game is designed to take gaming beyond entertainment by inspiring teens to create digital games on important social issues, such as energy or the environment. As a result, they enrich their educational experience by learning critical science, technology, education and math (STEM) and life skills.
Since its launch in June 2008, AMD Changing the Game has funded 18 programs by organizations that enable youth game development.
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