UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Unveils New Space to Inspire Patients with Creative, Collaborative and Experiential Learning through STEAM Education
UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh will unveil Matt’s Maker Space, a new space specifically designed for Maker and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics)-related programming. It will serve to appeal to and distract patients from their illnesses and allow them to engage in real-world problem-solving.
UPMC Children’s Hospital is proud to be one of the few pediatric hospitals in the country with a maker space available to the entire hospital. The event will feature community partners offering STEAM programming for patients and families during the day, including Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, Senator John Heinz History Center, The Andy Warhol Museum, Mt. Lebanon School District and more.
WHEN: 1 p.m., Tuesday, July 17 WHERE: UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, 4401 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, 15224. WHY: The Conover family founded Matt’s Maker Space to honor the memory of their son, Matt, who lost his battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma when he was 12. Matt was a kid with big ideas who loved to build and create. The family wanted to keep his memory alive in a way that helps other kids and speaks to the healing power of giving back.
In 2016, the Conovers helped fund Matt’s Maker Spaces in seven elementary schools in the Mt. Lebanon School District. In addition to the Maker Space at Children’s, two more spaces will be created this year, with locations at St. Paul’s Episcopal Nursery School and Our Clubhouse.