St. Louis, MO (June 21, 2019) – Unleashing Potential, formerly Neighborhood Houses, has received a $5,000 grant from Wells Fargo & Company to support STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) activities in its after school and summer enrichment programs. The funds were used to purchase Chrome books and LEGO WeDo robotics kits, which enable teachers and students to explore the building blocks of coding in a real-world environment. Recently, with guidance from UP’s after school enrichment staff at Patrick Henry Downtown Academy (1220 N. 10th Street, 63106), a Wells Fargo volunteer group engaged with elementary age youth using the kits to build robots. In addition to engaging with students in this STEM-themed activity, volunteers spoke with students about the importance of money management.
Unleashing Potential (UP) provides enrichment programming for more than 1,000 youth in 18 elementary schools in St. Louis, Riverview, Ferguson-Florissant and University City School Districts and five summer campsites annually. STEM enrichment activities stimulate interest in math and science, and excitement about learning and doing well in these subjects. The vast majority of enrolled youth live with low-income, working families (54% made under $10,000, 72% under $20,000, and 84% under $30,000), who would otherwise face financial and transportation barriers to accessing unique STEM experiences such as these.
Participating students from UP, grades 3-5, were paired with experienced professionals from Wells Fargo & Company and the St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative. In addition to creating an interest in STEM related fields, activities like these help students strengthen team building and problem solving skills. These contributions made by Wells Fargo to Unleashing Potential are a step towards making sure every child succeeds.
“It was a great pleasure to learn from the children as we engaged in STEM activities,” said Ronke Faleti, Business Leader at Wells Fargo Advisors. “It’s not always easy talking to adults, but these kids were natural, curious, respectful and engaged! It was great to hear their questions about Wells Fargo & Company and learn their perspective on money.”
Unleashing Potential, formerly Neighborhood Houses, believes all children can reach their magnificent potential. The nonprofit organization, which dates back to 1913, provides educational and empowering experiences to help close the opportunity gap and offers a continuum of care designed to improve the quality of life for children and families of the urban core of St. Louis City. For more information about Unleashing Potential, please www.upstl.org.
About Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.9 trillion in assets. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through 7,700 locations, more than 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 33 countries and territories to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 262,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 26 on Fortune’s 2018 rankings of America’s largest corporations. News, insights and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.
Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC and Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC, Members SIPC, registered broker dealers and non-bank affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company. 

