Science & Cultural Organizations Unite to Empower Female STEM Innovators & Next Generation of Pioneers
NEW YORK, NY March 5, 2019 – SheIS announced today that it will partner with IF/THEN, an initiative of Lyda Hill Philanthropies supporting women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). IF/THEN, built on the mantra that “if we support a woman in STEM, then she can change the world,” seeks to advance women in STEM by empowering current innovators and inspiring the next generation of female pioneers.
This first-of-its-kind coalition emphasizes that STEM is everywhere, essential to the success of all fields from entertainment to business, and that there is no better time to highlight positive and successful female professional role models to activate a culture shift among young girls and their potential of careers in STEM.
The new multi-year partnership between SheIS and IF/THEN will highlight the intersection of STEM and sports through the development of interactive content and experiential opportunities. The work will feature a number of athletes and business leaders in the sports world who either work directly in STEM careers or who otherwise understand the necessity of STEM in sport. It will also see an expansion of the work with current SheIS partner, Play Like a Girl, with the development of sports hackathons aimed at engaging young girls and women in STEM as it relates to sports.
SheIS Executive Director, Jillian Svensson, said, “We are excited for this new partnership and to expand the visibility for the important work that happens all across the sports world, but which does not always get the recognition it deserves. STEM careers are a critical part of this world, and just as we need more girls playing sports, we also need them to understand all of the career options that exist for them in the sports world. This partnership will help us to achieve that.”
Though women constitute about half of the college-educated workforce in the United States, just a quarter of STEM professionals are female, and a lack of funding and visibility has caused female STEM professionals to receive significantly less credit for their work. This STEM gender gap has impacted perceptions of women in STEM, and trickles down to younger generations.
“We need more women scientists to put their stories out there so girls can see what they can be when they grow up,” said Nicole Small, president of Lyda Hill Philanthropies and co-founder of IF/THEN. “To ensure that current female STEM innovators are supported, and girls are exposed to the STEM role models they need, we must join forces toward this common goal. We believe that having diverse perspectives at the table is key to building a more innovative future, and if we work together, we can truly shift the culture to inspire the next generation of female world-changers. That is why we are partnering with SheIS.”
SheIS Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer, Caiti Donovan added, “Just as we have brought together leagues and organizations, this new partnership is a first step in uniting industries, all in support of using sport to create a future of, by, and for strong women. The interactive content we will development as a part of this partnership will be the first of its kind, and we are excited to use the power of storytelling to introduce young girls to more role models and get them excited about the future that they can have when STEM meets sports.”
For more information about the coalition, visit www.ifthenshecan.org.
About SheIS:
Founded in 2017 and launched to the public on May 1, 2018, SheIS was established with a mission to use the power of sports to create a future of, by, and for strong women. It focuses on the positive attributes of sport to acknowledge and elevate women and celebrates those who are collective powerhouses and unwavering cheerleaders for their fellow athletes at all skill levels. The SheIS Collective includes leaders from every major sport and represents the first time in history that all these sports leagues and organizations have stood together in support of one cause. For a complete list of Athletes, Leaders and Sports Leagues which comprise the SheIS Collective, visit SheISsport.com or follow them on Twitter and Instagram @teamsheis and on Facebook @sheissports.
About IF/THEN
IF/THEN is part of Lyda Hill Philanthropies’ commitment to fund game-changing advancements in science and nature. IF/THEN seeks to further advance women in STEM by empowering current innovators and inspiring the next generation of pioneers. Rooted in a firm belief that there is no better time to highlight positive and successful female professional role models, IF/THEN is designed to activate a culture shift among young girls to open their eyes to STEM careers by: (1) funding and elevating women in STEM as role models, (2) convening cross-sector partners in entertainment, fashion, sports, business and academia to illuminate the importance of STEM everywhere, and (3) inspiring girls with better portrayals of women in STEM through media and learning experiences to pique their interest in STEM careers. To learn more, visit www.ifthenshecan.org.
About Lyda Hill Philanthropies
Lyda Hill Philanthropies encompasses the charitable giving of founder Lyda Hill and includes her foundation and personal philanthropy. Lyda Hill Philanthropies is committed to funding transformational advances in science and nature, empowering nonprofit organizations and improving the North Texas and Colorado Springs communities. To learn more about Lyda Hill Philanthropies, please visit https://lydahillphilanthropies.org/.
Media Contact:
Claire Charhon
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