Dottie Rose Foundation: Opening Doors for Girls in Technology and STEM

Dottie Rose Foundation (DRF) helps girls build lasting confidence and competence in technology at the very stages when many begin drifting away from it. Working with students from late elementary school through high school—and staying connected as graduates pursue college and career opportunities—the foundation creates sustained, skill-based pathways that lead to long-term participation in STEM. Its programs are designed not as one-off enrichment activities, but as layered experiences that combine technical training, creative exploration, and exposure to real-world applications. The goal is clear: ensure that girls see themselves as capable participants in the digital economy and give them the preparation to act on that belief.

Kars4Kids was pleased to provide a small grant to DRF because of its thoughtful, structured approach to expanding access and opportunity in tech education. The organization distinguishes itself through programming that is both engaging and rigorous, pairing inspiration with measurable skill development and clear workforce direction. To learn more about this important work, we put some questions to Dottie Rose Foundation Vice President of Education, Holly Harris.

Kars4Kids: Tell us about the kids you serve, if you would. How old are they? What do they all have in common and what barriers do they face?

Holly Harris: We serve a broad range of students, from upper elementary (4th and 5th grade) through high school and into their career journeys. We even have former students, both female and male, currently in college who completed our programs. While we are inclusive, our primary focus is on empowering girls to close the gender gap in tech. The common thread among our students is a spark of curiosity, but they often face significant barriers: a lack of direct access to technology and data that shows a discouraging trend of girls opting out of Computer Science (CS) courses in middle and high school.

Kars4Kids: How and why did DRF get its name?

Holly Harris: The foundation is named after our founder and CEO, Dr. Sharon Jones’ grandmother, Dorothy Rose Moore, affectionately known as “Mama D.” Along with Jones’ Papa and mother, she taught her the life-changing power of education. Mama D always said to love what you do, respect others, and give back to your community. She was a ray of sunshine who “danced her way into your life,” and we strive to bring that same joy to our students. Dr. Jones created this foundation to bring her legacy of grace and selflessness to life, helping girls find their voice in technology.

Kars4Kids: Can you tell us about StatStars? How do sports like hockey or golf connect to technology and computer science in this program?

Holly Harris: StatStars is all about showing girls that tech is everywhere, even on the green or the pitch! In our golf program, girls learn how statistics and data-driven insights are used by local golfers to improve their game. In our soccer program, partnered with the Carolina Ascent (Charlotte’s pro women’s team), girls explore the analytics behind the game. By seeing how data shapes strategies and sports journalism, they realize that being a “creator of technology” can lead to careers in sports management, analytics, and beyond.

Kars4Kids: Game design is another program you offer, in conjunction with East Mecklenburg High School. What can you tell us about this program? Do you find that girls approach game design differently than people might expect?

Holly Harris: While we serve all students in this program, we provide additional out-of-school career experiences specifically for the young ladies. Our workshops teach the fundamental logic of what makes a good game and progress to building custom games on age-appropriate platforms. We find that girls often approach design with a unique focus on narrative and problem-solving, and these extra experiences help them see a clear path from a hobby to a high-tech career.

Kars4Kids: You have a digital maker studio. What kinds of things can the girls create there? Who guides them through the process, and what is the goal of the program?

Holly Harris: It’s a multifaceted world of STEM exploration! Girls paint digital masterpieces with pixels, animate stories with flipbooks, and even engineer miniature bridges. They also take on Finch robot challenges to learn coding and engage in hands-on activities in every session. The goal is to blend digital design with physical engineering so girls can embrace STEM with confidence and enthusiasm.

Kars4Kids: Can you give us an overview of your CodeCrew program? How does it differ from your Game Design program? Kars4Kids has also supported a Memphis-based organization called CodeCrew. Is there any connection between the two?

Holly Harris: CodeCrew is an in-school program at East Mecklenburg High School, integrated directly into their CS courses and tied to state curriculum standards. While Game Design is a flexible workshop focused on building games, CodeCrew is a formal extension of the classroom. Regarding the Memphis organization, we actually have no formal connection, but I have seen them on your website and would love an introduction to see what we could grow together!

Kars4Kids: Tell us about StackBytes. It’s a yearlong program, right? This sounds like a program that could lead to future employment.

Holly Harris: Absolutely! StackBytes is our intensive, year-long program focused on full-stack web development. We are currently working to scale this into a formal apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship model. Our goal is to create a structured workforce pipeline where students move from “Byte” modules into specialized tracks like Data Analytics or Cloud Computing, eventually earning paid internship stipends and professional certifications.

Kars4Kids: What is “Binary Bling?”

Holly Harris: Binary Bling is one of our most popular workshops! We teach girls the “base code” of computers, binary, and then they use that code as a pattern to create their own personalized bracelets. We even host “Zoom-ins” with multiple schools to have hundreds of girls coding and creating at once. It’s a perfect bridge between 5th-grade math standards (like patterns and relationships) and creative self-expression.

Kars4Kids: DRF also offers camps and workshops. Can you give us an idea of some of the things girls do in camp? What do they do that’s fun for summer that’s also technology-related? What are some of the workshops you’ve offered?

Holly Harris: Our 2026 summer lineup is incredibly diverse! We have The Energy-Art Exchange, where girls explore sustainable engineering and create public art from recycled materials. There is Backstage Pass, which focuses on the tech behind theater (lighting, sound, and sets), and Code Blue, where middle schoolers visit organ transplant facilities to see how coding and data analysis save lives in healthcare. We even have The Algorithm of Cooking, which combines culinary arts with math and logic.

Kars4Kids: What’s next for the Dottie Rose Foundation?

Holly Harris: We are focused on growth and accessibility! We are particularly excited about this funding from Kars 4 Kids because it allows us to continue providing these high-quality programs to girls free of charge. Our next big leap is formalizing our apprenticeship pipeline to ensure our “StackBytes” graduates are ready to lead the Charlotte tech sector.