04/14/2026
Yesterday, we celebrated our 2026 Meta Data Center Community Action Grant recipients at our Henrico Data Center. It was a joy to bring together this year’s grant recipients, community partners, Meta team members, and local leaders!
Through our Data Center Community Action Grants program, Meta provides funding for nonprofits and schools — addressing critical community needs by putting technology to use for community benefit, enabling people to build strong, sustainable communities, improving local STEAM education — to support the long-term vitality of the Richmond Region. Learn more on this year’s projects:
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond: To launch a workforce-aligned cybersecurity education initiative that moves teens through a continuum of tech exposure, exploration and career experience.
Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU: To increase patient access to immersive virtual reality headsets that provide procedural support, distraction and mindful coping techniques during medical treatments.
CodeVA: To train educators to deliver incubator-style summer camps that equip high school students with entrepreneurship and AI-embedded workforce skills.
Feed More: To integrate AI-driven logistics solutions into regional food distribution to optimize supply forecasting, warehouse efficiency and community food access.
Girls For A Change: To bridge the digital divide for Black girls by providing essential tech certifications, industry-standard hardware and innovative software resources.
Greater Richmond Fit4Kids: To establish new learning gardens at Title I schools that serve as outdoor STEAM classrooms for hands-on nutrition and environmental science education.
Henrico Education Foundation: To expand access to computer science and competitive robotics for underrepresented students through the FIRST Robotics and Minecraft Education challenges.
Henrico Police Athletic League: To launch a year-round ecology club that utilizes AI and smart technology for real-time conservation data analysis and sustainable gardening.
Henrico Education Foundation: To launch data-driven “SEE-Hives” that utilize IoT sensors to engage students in beekeeping, data science and environmental stewardship.
James River Association: To deliver professional learning for regional teachers focused on stormwater science, featuring interactive stream tables and engineering design challenges.
Partnership for the Future: To bridge the AI divide by integrating artificial intelligence literacy, ethical use training and technical skill-building into summer work-experience programs.
Rvatech/: To spark curiosity in STEM through quarterly coding camps that introduce middle school girls to AI, Python and leadership in technology.
Science Museum of Virginia: To expand high-speed outdoor Wi-Fi infrastructure across the museum’s campus to support digital engagement, outdoor learning and community connectivity.
Startup Virginia: To equip the new Henrico Innovation Hub with advanced audiovisual technology to support founder mentorship, investor collaboration and community programming.
YMCA of Greater Richmond: To expand technology access for refugee and underserved youth through weekly STEAM labs focused on robotics, coding and digital media production.
Our thanks to Delores McQuinn, Henrico County Government, Henrico Education Foundation, Henrico County Public Schools Chamber RVA RVA 757 Connects for joining us. A big shoutout to Amanda Miles Photography for the fantastic photos.
