We were proud to learn that the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi (CFNWM) awarded the Lobaki VR Academy $15,000 to continue with virtual reality education and development investments! Gaining community support means a great deal for the VR Academy, not only because it allows us to continue, but also because it validates the vision of making tech skills more accessible throughout the region.
The CFNWM connects people to causes that matter in the Northwest Mississippi by collecting, managing, and distributing funds to nonprofits in the area. The foundation’s priorities are in education, health, and children. They oversee 11 counties and have helped distribute $18.3 million in grants from 2002 to over 420 charitable organizations. A portion of our grant is awarded through the Place-based Learning and Civic Entrepreneurship Endowment, which promotes teaching and learning by utilizing local resources and environments to gain problem-solving skills. The aim is to encourage young people to consider how their intellectual gifts can serve and enrich their communities. The other portion of the grant comes from the Technology in Education Endowment, which supports educational opportunities that bring the best resources to students and adults in the northwest Mississippi.
With their support as well as other institutions and individuals, we will continue to be the leading VR Center for social impact, and provide programming and classes for students at Clarksdale high schools and Coahoma Community College. We will continue to utilize Virtual Reality to promote innovative ideas and artistic expression for students in the region and create positive impact in the community while developing meaningful partnerships regionally and nationally.