Google Fiber has awarded Youth Code Jam a $25,000 grant to equip San Antonio area schools with the nonprofit's signature Jam in a Box, enabling the schools to host their own Community Code Jams for families.

The grant includes equipment, supplies, activities and training for each selected school.

Community Code Jams are free family events that get kids excited about computer science, build their confidence in their skills and inspire them to imagine themselves in the technology-driven jobs of the future.

A pilot of Jam in the Box took place last year, resulting in 37 jams in 21 Texas cities. "We learned a lot from our pilot, including the need to expand beyond online resources to a physical kit with training and support," said Debi Pfitzenmaier, Youth Code Jam executive director.

In all, the pilot program showed that school-run events can have the same powerful impact as Youth Code Jam-run events, including:

• Increased interest in coding

• Intent to continue to pursue learning

• Understanding of next steps to take

• Understanding of the connection between coding and jobs