General Motors Arlington Assembly awarded more than $100,000 in grants Thursday to local organizations and school districts that are investing in educational initiatives for youth, especially in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.

"Thank you to these organizations for your dedication to enriching our community through STEM-focused initiatives," said Raul Villarreal, an Arlington Assembly area manager. "We are honored to be able to support your work in making Arlington a richer, smarter, and more creative community."

The grant recipients included:

• Arlington ISD Educational Foundation: This $30,000 grant will aid students and educators in receiving the necessary resources for their classrooms.
• River Legacy Foundation: This $10,000 grant will encourage the education of younger generations on environmental preservation issues through River Legacy Parks and the River Legacy Living Science Center.
• Junior Achievement of the Chisholm Trail: This $10,000 grant will go toward helping students receive an interactive and engaging education that focuses on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and college and job preparation.
• United Way of Tarrant County: This $20,000 grant will aid residents of Tarrant County with a variety of social issues such as mental health, education, financial stability, and employment.
• International Leadership of Texas: This $10,000 grant will give students the opportunity to be educated from a global perspective, where all students will graduate with the necessary language and tools needed for future leadership and success.
• University Crossroads: This $15,000 grant will encourage students to pursue higher education with the help of SAT tutoring and college application seminars.
• Mansfield ISD Foundation: This $10,000 grant will help generate new approaches to distributing resources to teachers and students.

"One reason STEM careers are so important for Arlington ISD is that 70 percent of our student population is considered economically disadvantaged, meaning that the median household income is $24,000 or less," said Brian A. White, Arlington ISD Foundation executive director. "GM Arlington's support gives these students access to STEM education, which creates a gateway for these students to build bright futures and productive careers."

At the grant ceremony, attendees mingled while creating Lego masterpieces and their own trail mix. The organizations enthusiastically welcomed the theme "create" because they have a united mission of creating better career and educational opportunities for the younger generations in Arlington.

"We applaud our long-time partner General Motor's dedication to supporting quality education here in The American Dream City," Arlington Marketing Communication Manager Jay Warren said. "These grants ensure our community's youth have access to valuable STEM-focused education that will help them go far in their future careers."