The future is around this table: Mayor Kenney

Cameras were rolling when Mayor Kenney stepped into his Cabinet Room, where major affairs affecting the City are discussed and dissected. But as he looked around the room this week, something was different.

“The future is around this table,” the Mayor declared. And he was right.

Seated around the large oval meeting table, in the giant chairs usually occupied by the highest ranking City officials, sat the region’s top experts…in Minecraft.

At this week’s official launch of PCCY’s annual fundraiser benefiting Philadelphia public schools, a dozen future scientists, builders, and artists, ranging from ages 7 to 11, shared their ideas for the City’s Rebuild initiative, including playgrounds with 5-story waterslides, parks with petting zoos, and a fungeon (a fun dungeon). 

[CBS3: Mayor Kenney plays Minecraft with youth to announce STEMCraft]

This, the Mayor was told, was just a preview of what kids would be up to at STEMCraft.

On October 6, 2018, thousands of young gamers, their friends and families, will attend PCCY’s second annual fundraiser, STEMCraft (formerly the Block By Block Party), the largest Minecraft gaming event for kids in the country. This year, the event will be hosted fittingly at School of the Future, just blocks from the Philadelphia Zoo.

Hailed as a boon to creative play that promotes STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) learning, Minecraft enjoys high praise from educators and academics as a wholesome and educational activity for kids of all ages.

[KYW: STEMCraft event aims to boost STEM learning]

“STEMCraft brings kids together in creative, educational play, and raises money to bring hi-tech learning tools into classrooms. This event will raise funds to increase access to robotics and coding classes and clubs in the Philadelphia School District,” said Mayor Kenney. “As far as fundraisers go, STEMCraft is a homerun.”

STEMCraft is a safe, kid-friendly gaming event that uses Minecraft to build STEM skills, involve children in creative, constructive play, develop critical thinking skills and encourage collaborative work via an on-line platform and is especially designed for gamers 17 and under.

Last year, proceeds from the event fueled $10,000 in grants for hi-tech teaching tools in four District schools, focusing on boosting skills in coding and robotics. This year, we hope to double the size of those grants, called the Turing Tech Grant Projects.

But in order for STEMCraft to be the runaway success we know it can be, we need your help.

1. Help spread the word to families with school-aged children. Given the popularity of Minecraft, they’ll thank you!
   
2. Please consider sponsoring tickets for kids who wouldn’t ordinarily be able to afford to participate. You can do this as an individual or as a business or organization.
   
3. For businesses, why not be an official sponsor? Review our sponsorship package for the best fit for your organization.