Inspiring Futures. Building Innovators.
Helping Every Child RISE.
OUR MISSION
At Sapphire Rise, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we ignite curiosity and confidence in every child—no matter their zip code or background. Through hands-on STEM labs, aviation experiences, and workforce readiness initiatives, we prepare the next generation of thinkers, builders, and innovators to lead our future.
Your involvement—whether as a parent, educator, or community partner—helps turn potential into possibility and ensures that every child has the opportunity to rise.
When we lift a child’s imagination, we lift the future.
Our Story
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In the heart of Anne Arundel County, two passionate “boy moms” saw a gap — a lack of hands-on, high-quality STEM opportunities for their children and community. Fueled by determination and guided by experience in science and engineering, they set out to change that narrative. Together, they founded Sapphire Rise, a nonprofit dedicated to building a stronger, more inclusive STEM workforce pipeline for future generations.
What began as a small local effort has grown into a regional movement across Anne Arundel, Baltimore, and Howard counties. Today, Sapphire Rise empowers students through immersive STEM experiences — from robotics and coding to aviation and virtual reality — sparking creativity and confidence in every learner.
Our approach blends innovation, sustainability, and purpose. We believe in teaching the next generation not only how to build technology but also why it matters — nurturing environmental awareness, social responsibility, and problem-solving skills that prepare students for the world they’ll inherit.
At Sapphire Rise, we are more than educators — we are dream builders, innovators, and mentors. Every class, lab, and partnership reflects our unwavering belief that when children rise, entire communities rise with them.
So join us as we continue to educate, inspire, and empower the future STEM workforce — one curious mind at a time.
Our Pillars
Every RISE moment starts with curiosity and ends with confidence. Whether students are coding a game, piloting a drone, or designing their first prototype, Sapphire Rise transforms learning into discovery — connecting classroom skills to real-world innovation.
Innovation
We spark imagination through hands-on technology experiences — from robotics and coding to 3D design and flight simulation. Students don’t just learn how technology works — they learn to use it to solve real-world problems, invent new ideas, and lead the industries of tomorrow.
Skills Developed:
Creative thinking, coding, engineering design, digital literacy
Sustainability
Every lesson reminds students that innovation and responsibility go hand in hand. Through eco-conscious projects and green technology challenges, we teach future engineers to think sustainably — building solutions that protect our planet and communities for generations to come.
Skills Developed: Environmental awareness, design thinking, systems understanding
Community
Our greatest innovation is connection. We partner with schools, families, and local industries to create learning ecosystems where every child belongs. Together, we build pathways from the classroom to the workforce, ensuring opportunity is never out of reach.
Skills Developed: Collaboration, leadership, communication, civic engagement
Innovation fuels discovery. Sustainability shapes purpose. Community powers the RISE.
Together, We Rise
We’re Not Just Teaching STEM — We’re Building Futures.
Every program, partnership, and classroom moment at Sapphire Rise is guided by one belief: that every child, given the right opportunity, can rise. We exist to break barriers — providing access, mentorship, and innovation where it’s needed most.
When students discover their power to create, they don’t just change their futures — they change the world around them.