STE(A)M Truck Wins Big With 'Give The Garage'

The #GiveTheGarage campaign launched on Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a singular mission: donate a free event at The Garage (a $3,500 value) to a local nonprofit working to improve the Atlanta community.

The Garage was celebrating its first anniversary -- and what better way to celebrate than giving away free stuff? For the inaugural giveaway, Tech Square's extended community nominated 25  nonprofit organizations who could benefit from The Garage's centrally located, high-tech event space. From those 25 nominations, three finalists were chosen. The winner was announced at The Garage's First Birthday party. So which lucky nonprofit won out? 

STE(A)M Truck is the hugely innovative, results-producing, award-winning program from Community Guilds designed to help eliminate inequities and catalyze transformation. By driving a mobile innovation lab filled with tools and technologies directly to schools serving our poorest youth, STE(A)M Truck is able to close opportunity gaps too often predicted by zip code. 

"As a startup nonprofit, sometimes the ability to host a fundraiser or event is overwhelming," said STE(A)M Truck Executive Director Jason Martin. "We're three years old, and we'd never been able to host an event before. Give The Garage made it possible." 

Jason explained that for its first-ever gala, it was important to the organization to focus on "friend-raising" over fundraising. STE(A)M Truck eschewed exorbitant ticket prices in favor of inclusiveness, asking attendees to donate whatever amount worked for them at the door.

"Some gave five dollars, and some gave a hundred," said Jason. "We wanted the event to be accessible to everyone, including the teachers and artists whose work is so fundamental to what we do." 

The emphasis on community didn't hinder the financial impact of the event. In a single evening, STE(AM) Truck raised enough money to bring their services to yet another local school: Dobbs Elementary, a Title 1 school in South Atlanta. 

"The ability to bring our community together, say thank you, and have fun... was a gamechanger. The Garage was a perfect fit for us." 

Got an organization you know and love who could benefit from a free event next year? Nominations are open for #GiveTheGarage 2018. Simply visit http://www.bookthegarage.com/givethegarage/ to fill out a nomination form. Recipients will be announced at The Garage's second birthday this February. 

To learn more about STE(A)M Truck, visit their website or follow them on Instagram.