FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STONINGTON, CT – The New England Science & Sailing Foundation (NESS) is excited to announce that it has been awarded a generous grant from The Wireless Zone Foundation for Giving®. This funding will enable NESS to integrate cutting-edge technology into its classrooms, further expanding its commitment to experiential, hands-on learning opportunities for students. 

With this support, NESS will be able to elevate its educational programming by incorporating innovative tools and resources that foster student engagement and deepen their understanding of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts. This technology will not only enrich classroom experiences, but also help NESS continue its mission to inspire a love for learning through active and immersive education. 

“We are incredibly grateful to Neil Ryan and his Wireless Zone Foundation for Giving® team for their belief in our mission and their support in expanding our technological capabilities,” said Marcy Herlihy, NESS Managing Director of Advancement. “This grant will enable us to offer students access to resources that bring STEM subjects to life in a way that is engaging, interactive, and impactful.” 

The integration of technology aligns with NESS’s focus on experiential learning, which aims to immerse students in real-world problem-solving while fostering critical thinking and collaboration. By blending classroom instruction with hands-on experiences, NESS provides unique learning opportunities that have a lasting impact on students and communities alike. 

The Wireless Zone Foundation for Giving® supports both local and national nonprofit organizations, providing a basic structure for the company’s collaborative giving program and enhancing the individual stores’ ability to give back to their local community. The grant funds assist awarded organizations with initiatives to both expand upon current programs and implement new ones.   

The Wireless Zone Foundation for Giving® has long supported initiatives that make a difference in local communities, and NESS is proud to partner with them to bring even more opportunities for STEM education to the region. 

For more information on NESS’s educational programs and the impact of this grant, please visit NESSF.org.  

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ABOUT NESS 

New England Science & Sailing is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization that uses sailing, marine science, powerboating, and ocean adventure sports as experiential learning platforms to increase K-12 academic outcomes. NESS educators teach in classrooms and on the water, using over 100 proprietary lesson plans tied to school standards, including the Next Generation Science Standards, Ocean Literacy Principles, and Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning standards. NESS is the only school partner program accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. 

ABOUT THE WIRELESS ZONE FOUNDATION FOR GIVING®  

Founded in 1988 as "The Car Phone Store", the Wireless Zone® system has become the nation's largest wireless retail franchisor, was ranked the No. 1 franchise in its category by Entrepreneur magazine and #118 on Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 in 2021. Each of the over 400 stores are independently owned and operated, exclusively offering Verizon Wireless products and services. The Wireless Zone® system has been honored with Verizon's “Best Customer Service” award for five consecutive years and is franchised and operated by Wireless Zone LLC. For more information, visit www.wirelesszone.com.