STEM Gift Drive Chocolate Breakfast

Chocolate for breakfast? Absolutely.

The STEM Gift Drive is kicking off its 11th year—and the beginning of its next decade—with chocolate.

Saturday, November 14 | 9:00–10:30 a.m. | Lake Mary

Join us for our inaugural Chocolate Breakfast, a deliciously unconventional community gathering celebrating the start of the 2026 STEM Gift Drive. Bring a chocolate dish to share, meet others who believe in creating opportunities for young people, and help us begin another year of putting STEM toys, games, and books into the hands of future innovators.

Gifts collected through the STEM Gift Drive benefit young people served by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida.

• Learn more at STEMGiftDrive.org.

Who is this event for?
The Chocolate Breakfast is a gathering for the STEM Gift Drive community—current and past donors, collection hosts, community partners, volunteers, and individuals or organizations interested in becoming supporters.

While the event is free to attend, it is intended for people who are participating in, supporting, or interested in becoming involved with the STEM Gift Drive.

What to bring?

Bring a chocolate dish - mousse, brownies, cake, pie, truffles, cookies, or whatever chocolate creation inspires you. The more creative you are, the less likely someone else will bring the same thing.

• Portion note: You don't need to provide an individual serving for every attendee. One cake, pie, pan of brownies, bowl of mousse, etc. is plenty.
• When possible, prepare items in small, easily shareable portions.
• Items must be ready-to-serve (refrigeration, outlets, warming equipment, or kitchen space may be limited). Chafing dishes are permitted (not provided). We will provide serving utensils.
• Include a list of ingredients to display with your dish, and please clearly identify common allergens such as peanuts/tree nuts, dairy, eggs, wheat/gluten, soy, or sesame.
• If you're bringing a homemade dish, consider bringing the recipe (optional) - we will collect recipes for the Chocolate Breakfast Recipe Book. Make sure your name is included, and any story related to the dish.

Optional STEM Gift

• You can also bring a STEM gift for the gift drive.
• Find our gift ideas & guidelines: stemgiftdrive.org/wish-list.
• We understand some people attending are hosting their own collections separately in their businesses, organizations, or communities. Gifts at the breakfast are welcome, but not required or expected.

What to expect

• Buffet style potluck chocolate breakfast
• Yes, we will provide some non-chocolate items
• Non-alcoholic beverages will be provided, along with mimosas and chocolate wine (must be over 21 to participate in alcoholic beverages).
• At about 9:45 we will have a brief presentation about the STEM Gift Drive

Event Notes:

• Event is free to attend
• Ample free parking
• Elevator to event space
• Please bring a chocolate dish to share
• STEM gifts are welcome

Why Chocolate Breakfast?

The Chocolate Breakfast was inspired by John C. Pittman, a former colleague of STEM Gift Drive founder and CEO Tee Rogers. Each year for his birthday, John hosted a potluck “Chocolate Breakfast,” inviting colleagues to bring chocolate dishes to share. Everyone looked forward to it all year, and it seemed like such a unique way to bring people together. Tee eventually asked John if she could borrow his birthday tradition for a charity event—because, well... chocolate! Always one to support a good cause, he said yes.