STEM initiative Girlstart becomes the first ever US winner of the F1® Allwyn Global Community Award and €100,000 donation

Formula 1®, together with multi-national lottery-led entertainment company and Official Partner, Allwyn, are proud to name the female-focused STEM initiative, Girlstart, as the first ever US winner of the F1® Allwyn Global Community Award.

Girlstart will receive a €100,000 donation from Allwyn to continue their incredible work in the local community introducing STEM careers to girls from diverse groups. The national organisation aims to empower young girls, from all backgrounds, to explore STEM through an extensive out-of-school programme that features hands-on STEM camps, conferences, and activities.

Reaching more than 1,800 girls aged 9-14 in Texas each year, Girlstart has worked closely with Formula 1, the Circuit of Americas and F1 supported by charities for several years to bring STEM to life through a range of engaging activities, including robot coding sessions, behind-the-scenes Paddock and Garage tours and talks from the sport's world class engineers and drivers.

Over the next 12 months, the donation from Allwyn will enable Girlstart to support its ambitious activities, including 33 weekly hands-on STEM after-school programmes, 16 week-long summer camps, and the Austin Girls in STEM conference, benefiting an additional 1,250 girls to those who are already impacted from their community projects.

This weekend, Girlstart will be onsite at the FORMULA 1 MSC CRUISES UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX 2025 for another packed itinerary of experiences such as a trophy design competition - which see the group create custom F1 trophies to be judged and awarded by drivers - and an on-track relay race where the girls will go head-to-head with other athletes and engineers.

Established as part of Allwyn's multi-year partnership with Formula 1, the F1® Allwyn Global Community Award aims to recognise the outstanding contributions to society that F1-linked initiatives are making in their country. The Award reflects a shared commitment in driving positive change and giving back to the communities in which they operate.

This will be the second award from the programme, following a disability charity called Stichting HandicapNL receiving the accolade at the FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN DUTCH GRAND PRIX 2025, and two further winners will be crowned and receive €100,000 at the Mexico City, and Las Vegas Grands Prix this year. The winners are selected based on the impact they make across the four pillars of education, culture, wellbeing, and sustainability.

Ellen Jones, Head of ESG at Formula 1, said:

"At Formula 1, we are driven by a constant ambition to inspire the next generation and open access to our sport. Girlstart is a great initiative that both inspires young women interested in STEM subjects, and gives them access to pursue their dreams, so we're delighted they have won the F1 Allwyn Global Community Award. Their commitment will have a profound effect on many of the young girls they support by helping them towards a career in STEM and motorsport."

Katarina Kohlmayer, Allwyn Group CFO and F1® Allwyn Global Community Award judge said:

"Girlstart's work in Austin, and across the US, is both significant and important. At Allwyn, we champion those who take chances - but we understand it's much easier to pursue your dreams if you have the skills and confidence to succeed, as well as opportunities and role models to inspire you. Girlstart does this brilliantly and I'm delighted to be helping them empower even more young girls within the Austin community and beyond."

F1® Allwyn Global Community Award winner, Shane Woods, Girlstart, said:

"We envision a future where any girl believes they have the potential to change the world through STEM and F1 has been a huge support for our work here in Austin. Allwyn's donation will make such a difference, ensuring we have the necessary supplies, staff and training to expand our programme over the next year and increase the number of girls we can inspire for the future."