SFI - Academy

10/26/2025

Happy Star Trek Birthday to Cheryl "Gates" McFadden ❤
Cheryl Gates McFadden (born March 2, 1949) is an American actress and choreographer. She is usually credited as Cheryl McFadden when working as a choreographer and Gates McFadden when working as an actress. She played Dr. Beverly Crusher in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, its four subsequent films, the sequel series Star Trek: Picard and Star Trek: Prodigy.

10/26/2025

Star Trek: Enterprise's Connor Trinneer recalls the time Microsoft founder Bill Gates visited the set, and Trinneer kept his robe on during Gates' photo with the cast. Originally named simply Enterprise, the first Star Trek prequel series premiered in 2001 on UPN and ran for 4 seasons. Bill Gates was one of many high-profile visitors who were also Star Trek fans, and this included Stephen Hawking, who came to the set of Star Trek: The Next Generation and cameoed in an episode.

At ST-SF: Trek to San Francisco, Star Trek: Enterprise actors Connor Trinneer and Dominic Keating joined moderator Ryan T. Husk, host of The 7th Rule podcast, for a lively panel. As reported by TrekMovie, Trinneer told the funny story of how he met Bill Gates when the billionaire Microsoft CEO and Star Trek fan came by Enterprise's set during season 1. Read his quote below:

Early on in season 1, I was taking a nap in my trailer and a PA knocked on the door and said, ‘Bill Gates is here.’ I was sleeping and I was like, ‘Who?’ ‘Bill Gates, he wants to take a picture.’ And I was like, ‘Can I stay in my robe?’ And I did.

Here is the photo of Bill Gates with Star Trek: Enterprise actors Scott Bakula, Jolene Blalock, Anthony Montgomery, Dominic Keating, and Connor Trinneer

10/26/2025

10/25/2025

10/25/2025

The Roddenberry Foundation was built on a humanist philosophy that we often see reflected in the themes and storylines of Star Trek. As Captain Janeway showed us in Voyager, compassion is important even as we face our enemies.

Over the past 15 years, many of our grantees have focused on reconciliation and building bridges in communities experiencing high levels of conflict and violence.

Stick Talk, led by 2025 Roddenberry Fellow Ethan Ucker, provides a space for community-led conversations and trauma responses to gun violence. Co-created by young Black and Brown people who have been on both sides of the gun, Stick Talk allows communities to foster collective care and ultimately reduce harm.

10/19/2025

The Planeteers' Stadium

10/09/2025

If humanity ever hopes to reach its full potential, we must set aside prejudice, hatred, and fear of the unfamiliar.

The Roddenberry Foundation supports grantees who are exploring big, bold ideas that can change the world. From scientific discoveries that save lives to community organizing for a more just and equal society, we’re funding projects that recognize the vast, untapped potential of humanity.

With an eye towards the stars, we’ll never stop learning and exploring for the sake of all humankind.

10/09/2025

10/09/2025