Chicago, IL – August 20, 2026 – Project SYNCERE, a Chicago-based nonprofit dedicated to increasing access to hands-on STEM education and engineering opportunities for underrepresented youth, today announced it has received an $85,000 grant from the Motorola Solutions Foundation, the charitable arm of Motorola Solutions.
Through this grant, Project SYNCERE will support E-CADEMY, its hands-on engineering and technology education program serving Chicago-area students in grades 6 – 12. The funding will help provide students with access to engineering curriculum, technology, hands-on projects, career exploration, and opportunities to develop the technical and problem-solving skills needed to pursue future education and careers in STEM.
“Support from the Motorola Solutions Foundation allows us to continue creating meaningful pathways for young people to see themselves as engineers, innovators, and problem-solvers,” said Adrianne Ball, Interim Executive Director, of Project SYNCERE. “E-CADEMY gives students the opportunity to learn by doing, build confidence through hands-on experiences, and connect what they are learning in the classroom to real-world careers. This investment will help us expand access to those opportunities for more Chicago-area students.”
The grant will support key components of E-CADEMY, including hands-on engineering and technology instruction, curriculum and materials, student projects, career exploration, and opportunities for students to engage with STEM professionals and industry partners. Through E-CADEMY, students apply concepts in areas such as engineering design, robotics, coding, computer-aided design, electronics, and other emerging technologies while developing collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical-thinking skills.
The Motorola Solutions Foundation, which has donated more than $100 million over the past 10 years, focuses its giving on two key areas: first responder programming and technology and engineering education. The Foundation has a long-standing commitment to supporting programs that benefit under-resourced populations and aims to partner with organizations that align to its values of accountability, innovation, impact, and inclusion.
“The tireless dedication and transformative work of Project SYNCERE continues to inspire us,” said Wesley Barden Touhy, executive director of the Motorola Solutions Foundation. “At the Motorola Solutions Foundation, we aim to be more than a donor; we’re a proud partner and champion of their mission, and we are honored to support their efforts as they create lasting, positive change across the communities they serve.”
For additional information on the Motorola Solutions Foundation grants program, visit motorolasolutions.com/foundation-grant-partner.
For more information on Project SYNCERE, visit projectsyncere.org.
About Project SYNCERE
Project SYNCERE’s mission is to increase the number of underrepresented and underserved students pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) by providing hands-on engineering experiences and exposure to STEM professionals and careers. Through hands-on programs, including E-CADEMY, ENpowered, and STEM in Motion, Project SYNCERE equips students with the skills, experiences, and confidence to explore STEM pathways and envision themselves as future engineers, innovators, and leaders.
About the Motorola Solutions Foundation
As the charitable and philanthropic arm of Motorola Solutions, the Motorola Solutions Foundation partners with organizations around the world to build safer cities and thriving communities. We focus on giving back through strategic grants, employee volunteerism, and other community investment initiatives. Our strategic grants program supports organizations that offer first responder programming and technology and engineering education, and align to our values of accountability, innovation, impact and inclusion. For more information on the Foundation, visit: www.motorolasolutions.com/foundation