Last night at the second annual Delaware Bio Winterfest, Delaware BioScience Association provided the Junior Achievement of Delaware with financial support of $6555.00 to aid in the outfitting of the new Innovation hub.
The Junior Achievement Innovation Hub, opening January 29, has plans to use interactive technology to draw in 10,000 students annually to educate and excite them about career opportunities in the region’s life science companies. Attending the Winterfest were over 75 of the leading life sciences executives from companies in the Delaware region. The event was organized by the Delaware BioScience Association in conjunction with their sponsor, VWR International.
Bob Dayton, president of Delaware Bio, commented, “On behalf of the Delaware Bio Board of Directors we would like to thank all the Delaware Bio members who demonstrated their support for bioscience educational initiatives through their financial contributions to Junior Achievement of Delaware’s Innovation Hub. We applaud Junior Achievement’s new initiative and look forward to interacting with its students interested in careers in the biosciences as a result of our expanding relationship.” The funds were raised at the Delaware Bio Member Showcase hosted at the Delaware Biotechnology Institute on December 7, 2009.
Steve Goodman, regional vice president for VWR, agreed. “An event such as the Delaware Bio Winterfest provides an opportunity for the leaders of the life science industry to network and discuss ways to grow the sector and what better location to have such a conversation than a place which focuses on growing our youth. VWR in conjunction with Delaware Bio is delighted to support such an ambitious undertaking by Junior Achievement of Delaware. We see value in getting the youth engaged in science and technology careers at an early age, thus providing well educated and qualified candidates for the future. Both Delaware BioScience Association and VWR hope that this contribution will be the first of many and help prepare students to fill new positions that may emerge from this important and growing life science industry.”
The event allowed like-minded executives from the region’s leading and emerging life science companies to gather and discuss new ideas and featured a tour of the soon-to-open Innovation Hub.
Rob Eppes, president of Junior Achievement of Delaware, explained, “We were pleased to host the Delaware Bio Winterfest at Junior Achievement of Delaware. This event has greatly expanded the awareness and support among the leadership of life science companies throughout the Delaware region. Support from this group is essential and will make it possible for Junior Achievement of Delaware to achieve its goal of educating and charting a new course in the life sciences for Delaware’s youth.”
The Innovation Hub is the first of its kind for Junior Achievement and allows Delaware to spearhead the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) initiative throughout the rest of the JA sites worldwide.
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