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Strong, Smart and Bold: Fostering STEM Education for Girls

As a family company at work for a better world, we have a strong commitment to the people and the communities where we live and work. We’re dedicated to providing greater access to high-quality education with a focus on reaching communities who have been underserved and underrepresented.

Empowering and inspiring the next generation is a belief shared by our Chairman and CEO, Fisk Johnson. Along with his other philanthropic initiatives, Fisk is a proud supporter of Girls Inc. Of Chicago – a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering girls to be strong, smart and bold through providing them with access to life-changing programs and experiences.

On October 5, 2023, Girls Inc. of Chicago held their annual Strong Smart Bold Awards Gala at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Chairman and CEO of SC Johnson, Fisk Johnson, received the organization’s newly established Male Ally of the Year award for helping girls to reach their fullest potential and explore programs and careers in STEM.
Fisk Johnson has personally provided support for Girls Inc. of Chicago over the last several years and serves as one of their largest individual supporters. His commitment helped expand Girls Inc. of Chicago programming to more than 70 students at Hughes and Lavizzo Elementary Schools in the historically underserved Pullman and Roseland neighborhoods on Chicago’s south side.
The hands-on, real-world programming and experiences Girls Inc. of Chicago provides are an extremely important aspect of encouraging girls to pursue a career in STEM. Through Girls Inc. initiatives, girls connect with female STEM practitioners, giving them the opportunity to find a role model who looks like them so they can better envision themselves in similar roles. Without these opportunities, many girls would not have considered pursuing or have the access to pursue a career in the STEM field.
Before the Strong Smart Bold Awards Gala, the Girls Inc. Of Chicago girls were able to visit The Blue Paradox, an exhibit presented by SC Johnson at the Museum. Using an immersive, walkthrough experience, The Blue Paradox highlights the issue of plastic pollution in our oceans.  Not only did this give the girls an invaluable experience in STEM education, but it also showed them  opportunities to be part of the solution to the world's bigger issues.