From Mission To Movement
Press Releases & Media Coverage
LATEST PRESS RELEASE
Semiconductor Industry Leaders and Last Mile Education Fund Launch First-of-Its-Kind Fund to Tackle U.S. Talent Shortage
Applied Materials, Lam Research, KLA, and Cadence unite with Last Mile to keep future semiconductor engineers and technicians on track to STEM degrees nationwide.
Nov 3, 2025
2025
$750,000 Grant to Last Mile Expands Support for Students in Georgia, Kentucky, and Tennessee
Regional ensures more students complete tech and engineering degrees and launch high-impact careers.
Jul 15, 2025
Tech Talent Starts Here: How the Last Mile Fund Supports Student Success
A powerful conversation with Ruthe Farmer about unlocking opportunity in STEM education.
May 22, 2025
Last Mile Education Fund Overdelivers In Support Of Underserved STEM Students
The Last Mile Education Fund has a proven model that’s pouring back into the economy.
May 16, 2025
Engage for Good Announces Winners of The 2025 Halo Awards
Applied Materials and Last Mile - Momentum Fund Wins Gold for Best Education Initiative.
Apr 25, 2025
Cyber25: The Women of Impact List has been revealed
Team8 hosted the Honorees, Judges, cybersecurity executives, CISOs, VCs, and thought leaders on the NYSE Trading Floor for a special recognition night.
Mar 7, 2025
2020-2024
Cadence Launches Fem.ai
The Cadence Giving Foundation has committed $20 million towards this initiative, including philanthropic and product donations over the next decade to organizations that align with Fem.AI’s mission.
Sep 3, 2024
GET Cities Transitions Its Work as It Sunsets Operations Across Chicago, Miami and DC
Last Mile Education Fund is one of three longstanding GET Cities partners that will continue their mission, furthering the initiative's impact.
May 15, 2024
Funding Students in Need Past the Finish Line
A surprisingly small investment to get students through that “last-mile” can yield outsized benefits for the student and society.
Sep 25, 2023
For Lower-Income Students, Big Tech Internships Can Be Hard to Get
Securing prestigious tech internships often favors privileged students, exacerbates socioeconomic disparities, and creates significant barriers for those from lower-income and non-elite schools.
Apr 5, 2023
The Systemic Barriers to Landing a Big Tech Internship
The process of applying for and securing an internship in tech often excludes low-income students who are educated at lesser-known colleges.
May 3, 2023
Microsoft announces the 2023 Microsoft Security Excellence Award Winners
Microsoft hosts the Microsoft Security Immersion Event: Shadow Hunter, and recognizes the top 10 students for their achievements.
Apr 25, 2023
Meet the 16 grantees of the Tech Equity Collective Impact Fund
Last Mile Education Fund has been awarded a grant by Google's Tech Equity Collective (TEC) from the $1 million TEC Impact Fund to create career pathways for aspiring Black technical professionals.
Mar 21, 2023
International Women’s Day: The power of diversity to build stronger cybersecurity teams
Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President, Security, Compliance, Identity, and Management, reflects on the contributions of women in cybersecurity, highlights the challenges they face, and discusses efforts being made by Last Mile Education Fund and other organizations, to encourage more girls to pursue careers in this field.
Mar 8, 2023
Last Mile Education Fund grants help students overcome obstacles to graduation
Google's recent donation of $300,000 to Last Mile will enable the organization to expand its grants program.
Feb 7, 2023
Cybersecurity awareness tips from Microsoft to empower your team to #BeCyberSmart
In partnership with Last Mile, Microsoft aims to reach at least 25,000 students by 2025 with scholarships and additional resources related to cybersecurity pathways.
Oct 4, 2022
Why Income Must Factor Into Your Diversity Strategy
Ruthe Farmer addresses the topic of workers from financially vulnerable backgrounds during a panel conversation at the Grace Hopper Celebration.
Oct 11, 2022
Capital One Foundation Empowers Indigenous Women in Tech
Through a $250,000 grant, the Foundation supports Last Mile Education Fund’s Fellowship for Indigenous Women in Tech.
Oct 10, 2022
America’s Secret Weapon for Global Competitiveness Is Diverse Tech Talent in the “Last Mile”
Last Mile supports the students behind the stories in small but life-changing, industry-shifting ways.
Sep 22, 2022
2022 .ORG Impact Awards Finalists Named
Last Mile Education Fund was named a finalist for the 4th annual .ORG Impact Awards, honoring inspiring mission-driven organizations and leaders that are passionate about making the world a better place and work tirelessly to create a positive impact in their communities.
Sep 20, 2022
Last Mile Education Fund–Making a Big Difference
Educator, author, speaker, and software developer Alfred C. Thompson II writes about Last Mile Education Fund.
Apr 13, 2022
When a Sudden, Small Expense Threatens an Entire College Career
The challenges that face financially vulnerable students in college and the rationale for founding Last Mile - to invest in striving technology students nearing graduation.
Jan 30, 2022
Last Mile Education Fund just surprised 22 tech graduates by paying their student debt. Here’s why.
Last Mile announces the inaugural recipients of the Last Mile Debt Relief Initiative for Tech Equity.
Mar 17, 2022
Oxford Saïd graduate wins gold for increasing opportunities for women in tech and engineering
Ruthe Farmer’s alma mater features her for winning the gold and silver awards at the Anthem Awards.
Mar 8, 2022
Corporations, Community Colleges Partner on Cybersecurity Training
Coverage of $6 million Microsoft grant to Last Mile Education Fund.
Nov 4, 2021
Last Mile Education Fund Announces Texas Regional Fund for STEM Degrees
Last Mile announces the creation of a $100,000 regional fund, the North Texas Biotech Workforce Fund, to support students pursuing STEM and biotech-related degrees.
Jan 26, 2022
Tech Companies: Stop Conflating Privilege With Potential
Dwana Franklin-Davis, CEO of Reboot Representation, and Ruthe Farmer, Last Mile Education Fund founder and CEO, write an Op-Ed for TechCrunch on why we need to invest in student potential.
Dec 24, 2021
Microsoft Investing Millions In Community Colleges to Strengthen Cyber Workforce
Microsoft partners with Last Mile to provide 10,000 financially vulnerable students, including military veterans, with funds to pursue cybersecurity pathways.
Oct 28, 2021
Microsoft To Work With Community Colleges To Fill 250,000 Cyber Jobs
Microsoft will provide scholarships or assistance to 25,000 students and provide training for new and existing teachers at 150 community colleges across the country.
Oct 28, 2021
Microsoft Announces Plan To Cut Cybersecurity Workforce Shortage In Half by 2025
The company believes it can help train and recruit 250,000 people into the cybersecurity workforce by 2025.
Oct 28, 2021
Microsoft Allies With Community Colleges to Help U.S. Train 250,000 New Cybersecurity Workers by 2025
Microsoft announces a scholarship program for U.S. community colleges and other initiatives to address what it describes as a national cybersecurity skills crisis.
Oct 28, 2021
With $6M grant from Microsoft, Last Mile Education Fund Launches Cybersecurity Scholarship to Invest in 10,000 Students
Closing the gap in supplying technical talent to the cybersecurity workforce.
Oct 28, 2021
Microsoft Aims to Halve Cybersecurity Worker Shortage Through Community Colleges
Microsoft President says the U.S.'s millions of community college students are an under-used resource to fill gaps in the workforce.
Oct 28, 2021
How This Former White House Advisor Is Leading More Women And Minorities Into Tech
Tired of barriers keeping financially vulnerable students away from computer science and engineering careers, Ruthe Farmer—the former Senior Policy Advisor for Tech Inclusion at the Obama White House—has committed her life to equal opportunity in tech.
Nov 18, 2020
How the McGovern Foundation is Tackling Tech Educations Diversity Problem
How Last Mile Education Fund helps financially vulnerable female students through economic snags large and small without requiring them to navigate endless red tape.
Apr 15, 2021
USM Professor’s Mission to Help Low-Income Technology Students Leads to Successful Non-Profit Organization
University of Southern Mississippi Professor Sarah Lee joins forces with two colleagues to create the Last Mile Education Fund – a unique non-profit organization designed to give financially vulnerable students the financial boost needed to achieve their goals.
Mar 22, 2021
We Gave Emergency Grants To Students Affected By Covid-19. And, Here’s What We Learned
When colleges and universities announced indefinite shutdowns and students were abruptly ushered out of their dorms, AnitaB.org and the Last Mile Education Fund collaborated to launch a Covid-19 Emergency Fund for undergraduate women in computing.
Jun 5, 2020
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