From left, Bill Reason, Chattanooga Breakfast Rotary Club; Dawn Hjelseth, green|spaces; Chip Baker, Hamilton County commissioner; Jeannine Grogg, community supporter; Christine Loveridge, race car instructor and Brody Loveridge (in car)
The Chattanooga Breakfast Rotary Club is a partner of The Chattanooga Green Pix, a program of green|spaces, a local sustainability non-profit. The Green Prix focuses on preparing the next generation for jobs of the future by providing hands-on learning experience by designing, building and racing full sized electric power race cars.
Children will have access to new parts for their electric race cars and travel stipends to participate in regional races in thanks to a partnership between the Chattanooga Breakfast Rotary and Hamilton County Commissioner Chip Baker. Commissioner Baker is donating $2,500 which will be matched by the Chattanooga Breakfast Rotary for a total of $5,000.
In addition to the grant, the Chattanooga Breakfast Rotary Club supports the program by running concessions and donating proceeds to purchase additional replacement parts needed for the cars, volunteer as race assistants and mentor children during the build process.
Started in 2016 with the support of the Lyndhurst Foundation and Tennessee Valley Robotics, the program has grown exponentially, starting with seven local teams in 2016 to 40 teams today. Through this program, over 400 children are engaged in STEM learning. The teams receive kits provided by donors and fund-raising activities that contain car parts and technical guidelines for assembling the car. Many cities, including Chattanooga, host races for the teams to compete. Last year Chattanooga had three teams place in the top five in the nation. There are hundreds of volunteers who assist in race logistics and activities on race day.
For more information on the Green Prix, visit: http://www.greenspaceschattanooga.org/chattanooga-green-prix
For more information on the Chattanooga Breakfast Rotary Club, visit: http://www.chattanoogabreakfastrotary.com/
Bill Reason, Chattanooga Breakfast Rotary Club; Dawn Hjelseth, green|spaces; Chip Baker, Hamilton County Commissioner; Jeannine Grogg, Community Supporter; Christine Loveridge, Race Car Instructor; Brody Loveridge (in car)