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Stars of STEM is the Museum’s signature annual fundraising event. Since its inception in 2015, the event has raised over 3 million dollars for critical annual operating funds for the Museum. While themes change yearly, the event’s energy and excitement does not. Each Stars of STEM includes vivacious entertainment, food, and activities—all with a science twist. Additionally presented during the evening, the Stars of STEM Award recognizes individuals, foundations, and corporations that are leading the way in helping the Museum of Science and other institutions educate the next generation of scientists and engineers.
Represented by: Patty Harper, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications
On Friday, May 5, 2023, over 500 supporters gathered for Stars of STEM, the signature fundraising event for the Museum of Science. The event raised close to $700,000 with an evening of multi-sensory stimulation, interactive experiences, a silent auction, and the always lively Sparks After Dark afterparty, all of which celebrate the Museum’s work to bring inquiry-based learning and educational equity to the world. The Museum also honored this year’s Star of STEM, ClimateWorks Foundation, an organization whose global programs and services equip philanthropy with knowledge, networks, and solutions to drive climate progress.
Represented by: Penny Heaton, Global Therapeutic Area Head, Vaccines at the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson
Represented by: Hamilton Bennett, Senior Director, Vaccine Access and Partnerships at Moderna Malden
Represented by: Advait V. Badkar, Senior Director - Pharmaceutical Research and Development
Governor Charlie Baker & Lauren Baker
Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito & Stephan Rodolakis
After a brief hiatus, our signature fundraising event was back—both in-person and virtually on Friday, May 6, 2022. Our event raised over $550,000 through an in-person immersive experience, online auction, interactive STEM parties and exciting performances throughout the Museum. In addition, Sparks After Dark was reintroduced as the young professional’s afterparty of Stars of STEM. During the evening, we honored Johnson & Johnson, Moderna and Pfizer together as representatives of the life sciences community who worked tirelessly to bring global relief to the world by sharing science to produce vaccines in record time.
Kristi Hummel, senior vice president of human resources (accepting)
Dell is committed to shaping the future of innovation by developing technologies to drive human progress. And, we applaud Dell's dedication in expanding access to STEM education with a laser focus on underserved and underrepresented students. Through their generous support we have: introduced EIE to over 350 teachers and close to 12,000 students across the country, created or expanded a presence at Title I schools in 7 cities around the country, including here in Worcester MA and they have supported our addition of Computer Science into the EiE curriculum, which is now available.
Jeffrey M. Leiden M.D., Ph.D., Vertex CEO (accepting)
A special partner in our mission, Vertex is one of the most successful biotech companies in the industry, committed to inspiring and equipping students from all backgrounds to become the next generation of scientific leaders.
Ann Klee, President, GE Foundation; Vice President, Boston Development & Operations, GE (accepting)
The Museum of Science is where experience drives the imagination to places wonderful, joyful, and mysterious. The 2018 Stars of STEM Award recognizes that GE—the world’s Digital Industrial Company with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive, and predictive— shares our belief that when people are inspired, they will be motivated to figure out, to invent, and to create. For more than 100 years, GE has been committed to STEM education—from investing in public schools to bridging the gap between education and industry. Collectively, GE is helping to provide students with the skills they need to become the critical thinkers, problem solvers, and innovators of tomorrow.
Jack Little, CEO and co-founder (accepting)
The 2017 Star of STEM Award recognizes the lead role that MathWorks plays in accelerating the pace of discovery, development, and learning in engineering and science.
Founded in 1984 and headquartered in Massachusetts since 1986, MathWorks has been a generous corporate supporter of the Museum of Science since 1991. Their sponsorship of Free Film Fridays since 2010 has enabled over 230,000 visitors to experience immersive IMAX educational films in the Mugar Omni Theater. MathWorks has been a key partner in helping the Museum create the next generation of empowered STEM learners, as their talented staff has volunteered invaluable advice and expertise to Museum educators in the Hall of Human Life and is collaborating with our exhibit development team on new technology exhibits for the Blue Wing.
Supporting social change through STEM education, technological innovation and entrepreneurship, the Deshpande Foundation empowers young students, leading researchers, and socially responsible enterprises around the world. The Foundation's programs and events at MIT and UMASS Lowell — and in Canada and India — have helped to turn STEM innovation into STEM entrepreneurship. At the Museum of Science, the Deshpande Endowment for Girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math has supported programs that engage girls in technology learning as well as expansion of the Living Lab® in the Discovery Center.
Vint Cerf, vice president and chief internet evangelist/co-inventor of the internet
By organizing the world's information and making it universally accessible and useful, Google technologies have become an essential part of our daily lives. Google's philanthropy supports innovation around the world with charitable grants and transformational gifts of technology. At the Museum of Science, in addition to funding field trips and teacher development programs, Google's early support of The Science Behind Pixar was critical to the development of an amazing exhibition on computational thinking that will travel to science centers around the US and inspire millions of young people to learn more about STEM.
Dan’l Lewin, corporate vice president for technology and civic engagement (accepting)
The 2015 Star of STEM award recognizes Microsoft’s foundational role in the personal computing revolution and its unparalleled commitment to empower everyone through technology. Microsoft devices and services are essential tools in the classroom, in homes, in small businesses, in government agencies, and in the largest global enterprises. Microsoft’s commitment to STEM learning—in both formal and informal settings—is helping educators do more to engage students and encourage them to pursue careers in STEM-related fields.
George Scangos, PhD, Chief Executive Officer
Biogen Idec has a 35-year history of caring deeply and changing lives—not only through their therapies for neuro-degenerative diseases and auto-immune conditions, but also through their commitment to STEM education. In addition to their support of the Museum’s Hall of Human Life and Suit/Cabot Lab, the Biogen Idec Foundation supports a variety of educational and community engagement programs, including Citizen Schools in Boston and Chelsea as well as North Carolina, Science Club for Girls, the Biomedical Science Careers Program, and the East End House. For over a decade, the Biogen Idec Community Lab has provided middle and high school students with hands-on experience in a real research lab with Biogen researchers.
David H. Long, president and CEO (accepting)
Liberty Mutual's $100 million philanthropic program is among the largest corporate giving programs in the country, and Liberty is a leader in supporting efforts to expand educational opportunities for low-income and non-English-speaking youth in Boston. Through its Education Initiative, the company has invested almost $9 million in proven educational programs serving Boston's neediest students. Liberty Mutual is the leading sponsor of Boston's Fourth of July celebration, the FIFA World Cup, and an official sponsor of the 2014 US Olympic and Paralympic Teams in Sochi, Russia, as well as the 2016 teams in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Pendred Noyce is a medical doctor, education reformer, and author whose young adult fantasy/adventure novels feature imaginative STEM lessons that are organic to plot and character development. She is cofounder of Tumblehome Learning, a nontraditional transmedia publishing company offering books, board games, and mind-challenging video games. In the fall of 2012, Governor Deval Patrick appointed Dr. Noyce to the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
The Noyce Foundation was established in 1990 to honor the memory and legacy of Dr. Robert Noyce, cofounder of Intel and inventor of the integrated circuit. The Noyce Foundation is focused on improving the teaching of math and science in public schools, developing leadership to support achievement, and expanding opportunities for students to experience hands-on science in out-of-school settings.
With the formation of the Governor's STEM Advisory Council, chaired by Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray, Governor Deval Patrick established Massachusetts as the national leader in STEM education and workforce development. The Patrick-Murray Administration has created a foundation for the future of STEM education in Massachusetts.
Dr. Jane E. Shaw, chairman of the board of directors (accepting)
As a global leader in technological innovation and one of the most philanthropic corporations in the world, Intel has supported STEM initiatives in formal and informal education arenas. Their community-based programs provide the resources and solutions needed to advance and sustain STEM education around the world.
Henri Termeer, former chairman, president and CEO of Genzyme (accepting)
In 2006, Genzyme's largest-ever philanthropic gift enabled the Museum to create and endow the Genzyme Initiative for Biotechnology Education. A milestone in Genzyme's 15-year support of the Museum, this permanent, multi-tiered program represents a mutual commitment to promote and support science education locally and globally.
William Swanson, Raytheon chairman and CEO (accepting)
Raytheon Company is the longest-standing corporate member company of the Museum of Science. Since 1953, Raytheon has been supporting the Museum through corporate philanthropic giving. Now, in the 21st century, Raytheon and the Museum continue to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.
