Google announces $500,000 in support for local nonprofits and schools in Mayes County

PRYOR, Okla. (July 8, 2026) - Google is contributing a half million dollars to benefit five local nonprofit organizations, including Boys & Girls Clubs of Green Country and three local school districts (Salina, Chouteau-Mazie, and Locust Grove Public Schools) in Mayes County. Funded through its Community Investment Fund, these investments prioritize projects dedicated to bridging the digital divide and expanding educational opportunities in the communities where Google operates.

“We are honored to collaborate with these vital organizations driving real change in Mayes County,” said Jessica Forman, Google manager of data center community workforce and development in Oklahoma. “These schools and nonprofit organizations serve as the backbone of our communities, and these funds will direct resources toward STEAM programs and technology access for all ages - from elementary students to veterans.”

Investing in local nonprofits

The following organizations received funding for high-impact community projects:

Boys & Girls Clubs of Green Country: Expand after-school STEM pathways through hands-on aerospace and engineering kits, interactive electrical design, and tablet-enabled robotics across all three club locations in Pryor, Locust Grove and Chouteau.

Mayes County HOPE: Invest in STEM education through community gardening, youth leadership development and hands-on environmental learning.

Mayes County Historical Society: Transform the local museum into a “STEAM + History Hub” by using augmented reality (AR) and interactive exhibits to build digital literacy for students, entrepreneurs and visitors.

OK Freedom Flight: Launch the "Veterans' Tech Empowerment Initiative," which includes a new, fully functional computer lab to help veterans apply for jobs, access benefits, and pursue Google Career Certificates.

Your Place Resource Center: Expand the "Mobile Studio Initiative," featuring an electric vehicle-based mobile podcast studio. The project leverages Gemini and Google tools to provide life coaching and wellness programs to 1,000 people, bypassing traditional transportation barriers.

Adair Community For Excellence in Education Foundation: Fund grants for teachers in Adair Public Schools to facilitate innovative classroom initiatives and specialized learning tools.

"As a nonprofit organization, our partnership with Google has given us the opportunity to offer hands-on STEM activities to our youth at all three of our Boys & Girls Club locations,” said Rose Craig, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Green Country. “Federal and State dollars are never guaranteed, great partnerships, such as ours with Google, allows us to offer programming we otherwise would be unable to provide. These STEM kits allow us to explore career pathways at a younger age, giving them goals and ideas for their future, using hands-on aerospace, electrical design, engineering kits and robotics kits. By introducing these tools at an earlier age, we are inspiring long-term career goals for local youth."

Advancing technology in education

Three local school districts received funding to modernize classrooms and support competitive programs:

Chouteau-Mazie Public Schools: Modernize technology infrastructure for both its high-demand esports program and its foundational Business Marketing and Information Technology classes.

Locust Grove Public Schools: Replace Chromebooks for the district's elementary, middle and high school students, ensuring equitable access to Google Classroom and state testing platforms.

Salina Public Schools: Fund the “After-School Technology & Learning Program” providing pre-K through fifth grade students with hands-on training in coding, robotics and digital media.

"We are sincerely grateful for Google’s generosity, which allowed us to purchase new computers for our Business Technology classes and continue growing our esports program. These computers have replaced outdated equipment that often struggled with updated software and disrupted student learning,” said Josh Gwartney, superintendent of Chouteau-Mazie Public Schools. “Now in its third year, our esports program continues to build excitement, connection, and pride among students. Google’s donation has made a lasting difference by strengthening instruction, supporting esports, and creating more opportunities for students to learn and thrive.”

About Google in Oklahoma

Google has proudly called Oklahoma home for more than a decade with a data center in Mayes County. Through programs and local initiatives that utilize Google’s tools and expertise, they’re working to help businesses, educational institutions, community collaboratives, nonprofits, and individuals create and thrive in a sustainable, knowledge-based economy. Since 2008, Google and Googlers have given more than $12 million in funding (cash grants, social impact funding, employee donations, and gift match) to organizations and nonprofits in Oklahoma.