We're pleased to announce that our May grant has been awarded to the Soap Box Derby team at PS 72 in the Bronx.

Did you know that NYC is home to an active and growing Soap Box Derby community? 45 schools participated in this year's local competition, with the car from PS 72 coming in 4th place. Students at the school participate twice a week in their after school program, learning how to build their cars and preparing for competition. Run out of the school's STEAM maker space, the program brings in kids who might not otherwise be interested in their other after school offerings.

In their own words: We're a team of elementary school students from PS 72 in the Bronx preparing for our 2025–2026 Soap Box Derby season! We’ll be using the Awesome NYC grant to purchase team uniforms and help fund a special field trip to a go-kart facility. Since we’re a city school with very limited space, our last team practiced driving in the aisle of the auditorium! The trip will give students a safe and fun way to get a feel for driving before race day.

Want to support or participate with our team?

• Sponsor our team financially
• Donate items for our race day event
• Come out to cheer us on in person!

More information is available on our team website and check out our Grants & Sponsorship page on the site for specific ways to contribute or get involved.

This was only the second year of Soap Box at PS 72 (which has now grown to 2 cars), and we can't wait to see how the program continues to grow in the future.