STARBASE ROBINS, a vital STEM education outreach program located at Robins Air Force Base, is facing a severe funding crisis that threatens to shut down its invaluable science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education initiatives for local youth. As one of the Department of Defense's largest youth outreach programs, STARBASE ROBINS plays a crucial role in inspiring and educating fifth graders in the Middle Georgia Area.

Program officials report that while they received stopgap funding from the Department of Defense (DoD) to remain operational through January 31, they are projected to exhaust these funds by early February unless immediate action is taken.

"STARBASE ROBINS provides a hands-on, minds-on STEM education experience that sets our children up for success for their educational career and if they choose to enter the STEM workforce that is so vital to the Middle Georgia economy," said Wesley Fondal, Jr., Program Director of STARBASE ROBINS. "Last academic year, we served over 2300 fifth graders and middle school students, and we are on track to exceed that number this year. Our program delivers more than 25 hours of interactive STEM education, igniting a passion for learning that can last a lifetime."  Since its inception in 1996 (29 years), the STARBASE ROBINS Program has seen over 43,000 students come through their programs.

The STARBASE program operates on an annual budget of approximately $700,000 which is part of the broader funding structure of around $50 million for all 88 STARBASE programs in 2024. Despite the program's success and demand, a sudden funding shortfall arose after the program sought an increase of $60 million from Congress. The House approved this increase, but the Senate Armed Services Committee allocated only $20 million, leading to a funding impasse that has yet to be resolved.

Without additional funding, STARBASE ROBINS faces the grim prospect of closing its doors and laying off staff by the end of February. Officials are calling on local residents and stakeholders to contact their representatives in Congress, urging Georgia’s U.S. Senators, Jon Ossof and Raphael Warnock, to prioritize support for the program.

"The future of our Middle Georgia children’s STEM education is at stake," Wesley Fondal added. "We need our community's support to ensure that STARBASE ROBINS can continue to inspire the next generation of innovators and leaders."

For more information about STARBASE ROBINS and how to support its mission, please visit https://www.starbaserobins.org  or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/StarbaseRobins/ or contact Wesley Fondal, Jr. at [email protected].