Celebrating Twenty-five Years of Innovation at the PAST Foundation

On April 25, 2025 the PAST Foundation celebrated twenty-five years of service at our annual STEM of Spirits event.  Let’s recap, and look back together. 

Twenty-five years ago, the founders of PAST said YES. Yes, to tackling the problem of how to get more kids into scientific fields, and yes to more educators getting wickedly comfortable with linking learning to life.  Collectively we said yes to embarking on a journey of discovery, of EPIC failures, of colossal triumphs, and many long but joyous days. 

Our journey has led us to so many places.  To the Gulf of Mexico, to the Florida Keys, to Ghost towns, to caves in Kentucky, to the Chanel Islands, to the high plains of South Dakota, to upstate New York, to the beaches of California, to the mountains of Alaska, to the deep blue of the Caribbean, to England, to Jordan, to Japan, to Canada and so many amazing places in between them all.  And each time we said yes.  Yes, we can try, yes, we can co-design and co-create, yes, we can imagine and reimagine.  Yes, a thousand times YES. 

This journey has been made possible because not only did we say yes, those around us chose to join us in that YES as well.  The incredible staff past and present, gave their time, their talent, their heart and souls because they believed in the mission.  There is not a moment in our story that can be told that does not include the power of such an incredible group of people.  I am humbled by their efforts and their unwavering dedication.  The same can be said for the drive and their incredible gift of time that countless board members have given as they too chose to say YES when called to serve.  And our community said YES as well.  Columbus, her industries, her community organizations, her schools, her volunteers and mentors, her families, OUR families -- all choose to stand with the PAST Foundation.  There have been countless late nights, weekends, early mornings, interrupted vacations, urgent phone calls, and triumphant hurrahs along the way.  All because we collectively said YES.  Yes, to the incredible futures that our young people have before them, yes to the educators that leaned on us as we leaned on them.  Yes, to believing that we can, in fact, make a positive and lasting impact on our community and the future of education, not just in Ohio or the US, but around the world. 

So, let’s break down the power of all of those yes’s.  We have had 3.2 MILLION students through our programs, our field studies, our internships, and our workforce initiatives, as well as those impacted and influenced through the more than 24,000 educators that have graced us with their trust as we embarked on a journey to reimagine education.  2025 is all about saying a few more yeses to those amazing kiddos that we all know will change the world.  All fundraising efforts this year fund scholarships for students to attend high quality STEM summer programs.  Our goal this year is to raise an additional 250,000 dollars in honor of our 25^th anniversary. Every single person reading this can be part of changing a learner’s trajectory.  The QR code at the end of this blog gives you the chance to be part of sending a kid to camp.  We know that giving every child the opportunity to attend high quality out-of-school experiences positively impacts young lives.  Say YES with us. 

All told, it’s been a hefty 25 years, and yet, there is so much more to come.  So, join me in support of the next 25!

Donate