Imagination Foundation
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Formation | 2012 |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-profit organization |
| Purpose | Charitable |
| Location | |
Region served | Worldwide |
| Website | imagination |
The Imagination Foundation is an American non-profit organization that primarily works at developing children's skills.
Nirvan Mullick and Harley Cross founded the Imagination Foundation in 2012, inspired by the response to Mullick's short film Caine's Arcade.[1][2] Imagination Foundation received initial seed funding from the Goldhirsh Foundation.[3]
The foundation's first program was the Global Cardboard Challenge. The program launched a second short film by Mullick called Caine's Arcade 2: From a Movie to a Movement, which was posted online in September 2012, and ended by advertising Global Cardboard Challenge.[4]
Mullick received the 2012 Big Ideas Fest Innovation in Action Award[5] and the Dan Eldon Creative Activist Award from the Creative Visions Foundation. In 2012, Mullick spoke at Mattress Firm's National "Bed Talks" event, leading to a partnership for the 2013 Global Cardboard Challenge.[6] Mullick and Cross continued to run the organization until bringing on a full-time Executive Director, Mike McGalliard in May 2013. In 2014, the Imagination Foundation was featured in the Ashoka and Lego Foundation "Re-Imagine Learning Challenge".[7]
Programs
The Global Cardboard Challenge is an annual challenge that invites kids to build things using cardboard and recycled materials. It culminates in a global "Day of Play" where communities display the children's cardboard creations.
In 2014, Imagination Foundation partnered with the National Head Start Association and Lakeshore Learning to launch a national campaign to bring STEM education to pre-school children. The partnership was announced at the Clinton Global Initiative America with a 3-year commitment to engage 30,000 pre-school children in early STEM education.[8]
