Contact: Erica May | emay@www.bgcaz.org | 602.343.1203
(Phoenix, AZ – April 20, 2016) –Members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix (BGCMP) are ready to launch into space with the visit of a Dr. Dante Lauretta of the University of Arizona. The principal investigator of an asteroid mission will be joined by an astronomer for a night of space exploration at the Swift Kids Branch.
For months, Club members have participated in the Xtronaut program, created by Dr. Lauretta and sponsored by Cox Communications. The curriculum is based off a real space mission called Osiris Rex that is set to launch in September and travel to the Bennu asteroid. Osiris Rex will collect samples from the asteroid and bring them back to Earth. Dr. Lauretta grew up spending his summers at the Harry & Sandy Rosenzweig Branch and is excited to share his story about his journey from BGCMP to Bennu with aspiring astronauts.
“We are excited to bring the Xtronaut program into the Clubs and provide STEM lessons through a fun curriculum,” says Suzee Smith-Everhard, Cox Communications Director of Community Relations. “Teaching these STEM skills though an engaging program will help Club kids pursue careers in related fields. It is even more exciting to have the creator of the program, Dr. Lauretta, here to interact with the Xtronauts and speak about his path from the Club to outer space.”
Club members will enjoy views of Jupiter, cloud bands and the Galilean Moons with a GPS-Computer Controlled telescope; model space crafts; rocket-making activity and more during this night with professional asteroid chasers.
What: A Night with the Stars Event
When: Friday, April 22, 2016; 6:30 p.m.
Where: Swift Kids Branch 6420 W. Maryland Ave. Glendale, AZ 85301
About the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix provides after-school and summer programs in some of the Valley’s most deserving neighborhoods. Our programs focus on four key areas: Academic Success, Healthy Choices, Be Great-Do Good and Fun with a Purpose, providing youth with the tools they need to enjoy childhood and become successful adults. Every year, thousands of children and teens benefit from programs through our 13 clubhouses, outreach services in the community and children’s dental clinic. For more information about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix, like us on Facebook.com/BGCMP, follow us on Twitter @bgcmp or visit www.bgcaz.org.
About Cox Communications Cox Communications is the third largest cable provider and a multi-service broadband communications company in the country, serving nearly 3 million residential and business product subscribers in Arizona (a product subscriber represents an individual service purchased by a customer). In metro Phoenix, Cox serves approximately 2.5 million product subscribers. In Southern Arizona, Cox serves approximately 400,000 product subscribers. Cox’s 24,000-mile hybrid fiber coaxial cable network throughout Phoenix and Southern Arizona provides homes and businesses with digital television, high speed Internet, home networking, high definition television and digital telephone service over its own nationwide IP network. Cox is the third largest private for-profit employer in Arizona. During the past ten years, Cox has topped numerous J.D. Power and Associates’ studies of customer satisfaction, most recently receiving top honors for residential telephone & high speed Internet, and business data services and has received PC Magazine’s “people’s choice” award for the sixth time. Additionally, Cox High Speed Internet has been ranked #1 for the past eight years on the “Ranking ArizonaBest of Arizona Business” list. Cox Media is responsible for the sale of cable advertising throughout Arizona. Cox Communications is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc. and serves approximately 6 million customers nationwide. Additional information about Cox in Arizona is available at www.cox.com/arizona.
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