FUNducation recently received a $120,000 grant from the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation to expand its work—the largest gift the organization has received to date. The funds will be used to hire more staff and help build more community partnerships. FUNducation plans to team up with Sarasota County Schools and also create a pipeline with local colleges who already have esports programs. Founded by Neirda Thompson-Pemberton, a civil engineer, FUNducation aims to expose, engage and empower youth to through education in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (S.T.E.A.M.). Additionally, the organization recently decided to focus on a quickly emerging market: video games and esports.