RISE Foundation

Acronyms

 * RISE - Research Institutes for Scientific Endeavors
 * ARC - Advanced Research Collective

History
Created by Lexington Dash, who wanted a nationwide chain of research laboratories unconnected to the government or any business interests. He had worked for various agencies, think tanks & labs but all of them suffered from the same blight- adherence to the status quo as opposed to scientific research to advance the knowledge of all mankind and for decades this haunted his work and his mind. He dreamed of working for an organization of scientists completely dedicated to the embetterment of mankind in all its resplendent forms. After 10 years of scraping every penny and speaking to hundreds of possible investors the RISE Foundation was created, followed by the first RISE Laboratory was opened 11/30/2059 in New York City (Manhattan) and was focused on new Nuclear & Anti-Matter Energy technologies. The money he made funding sustainable energy technologies helped fund the growth of this heady venture, but soon even that grew to surplus.

Not wanting to become rich from his humanitarian efforts (something he'd find he would be unable to avoid for too long), Lexington Dash decided to fund other researchers efforts in other fields of science. As such, other locations sprung up in hubs of industry across the country, with each location specializing in a different field of study. This monumental growth took some time before it was accomplished, but word of mouth spread fast. People of all sorts had come to work there for different reasons- many of the scientists were absolutely ecstatic to be working for an organization that was not interested in turning their discoveries and inventions into weapons. They couldn't jump ship fast enough- and so Lexington left the appointment of researchers (& their particular niche of research) to the RISE Foundation's Board of Directors. He of course maintained a small list of the top talent that he could tap to circumvent the long & detailed interview process.

As RISE's success continued on unabated Lexington Dash set his eyes on other research facilities to bolster the number of brilliant minds he could bring under his insulated wing. Combined these locations became ARC (Advanced Research Collective) Labs and were funded exclusively from the profits reaped by the RISE Foundation.

Their inventions have been licensed out to countries around the world, and such revenues have allowed Lexington Dash to run the company without bowing to stockholder pressures. The RISE Foundation & ARC Labs already frequently provide scientific guidance & assistance for superheroes when they need it. In fact, they have been instrumental in saving the world on many occasions.

A spokesperson has stated that 'The newest campus will take advantage of the metahuman activity in Colonial Bay, & strive to increase its interactions within the metahuman community.'

Headquarters & Locations
At the entrance to the main building on every campus, visitors and faculty alike are greeted by the Criterion Stone. A monolithic slab of imported Carrara marble. The creed of the organization is chiseled into the face in Romanesque text. It reads:

Science for the sake of Mankind, not Profit or Glory.

Together we RISE.

A.R.C. Lab Locations:
 * New York City, NY: specializing in energy research and technology
 * Colonial Bay, VA [centrally located]: catch-all facility (some Meta-human specializations)
 * Kansas City, Kansas: specializing in computer engineering, Artificial Intelligence & robotics
 * Denver, CO: specializing in seismology, meteorology and natural disasters
 * San Diego, California: specializing in chemical research
 * Atlanta, GA: specializing in genetics and disease control - often works with the CDC.
 * Portland, Oregon: specializing in studying psychology and psionics works with Mens Sanus, Inc quite frequently.

Known Members and Associates

 * Research Professor Marcus Faraday - High Energy Physics Specialist & as Head of Governing Council of RISE Labs' Pathfinder Program which serves as a Alternative Graduate Program/School for underprivileged high school & college students interested in the fields of Biotech, Nanotech, Cybernetics and Advanced Physics. Top graduates are offered positions at RISE Labs Facilities worldwide.


 * Doctor Anton Bridges- a specialist in High Energy Systems with a keen eye for Meta-Human Biology.
 * Sentinel has a standing appointment with Doctor Bridges where he regularly contributes a portion of his energy to the High Energy Research Center's batteries.
 * Katrina Copycat Prince works as his full-time Lab Assistant.


 * More Coming Soon!