The cloud-computing company Salesforce, based in San Francisco, reached across the bay Thursday to give Oakland students a $2.5 million boost to improve science, technology, engineering and math skills.

The money will be spent on principal innovation fund at six middle schools and programs to provide support for math teachers and increase the number of black and Latino students in science, technology, engineering and math studies.

It also will fund Future Centers, designed to increase students’ college and career awareness. The program will include college tours, college and career fairs, and job shadowing.

“I am thrilled to partner with Salesforce.org to offer more opportunities for Oakland students and teachers. As a result of the partnership, the number of students with access to computer science classes, more personalized math instruction, and college and career support will dramatically increase,” said Mayor Libby Schaaf in a statement.

Salesforce’s philanthropic foundation, Salesforce.org, has funded programs in San Francisco for four years. The $2.5 million is part of an $8.5 million Salesforce donation to public schools in the two cities.

“It’s been incredible to see the growth of computer science programs in San Francisco through our work with SFUSD and Mayor Lee, and we’re excited to extend our partnership to Oakland and Mayor Schaaf,” Salesforce’s Ebony Frelix said in a statement.

The new partnership with Oakland has been a year in the making, said Brian Stanley, executive director of the Oakland Ed Fund.

“They’ve been very clear about being committed for the long term,” Stanley said.

Salesforce employees will volunteer 20,000 hours in Bay Area schools, including six Oakland middle school campuses: Bret Harte, Frick, Roosevelt and West Oakland, United for Success and Urban Promise academies middle schools.

“It’s pretty incredible. We certainly appreciate everything they’re doing for us,” said John Sasaki, school district spokesman.

The donation was announced at Oakland’s Frick Impact Academy.

Contact Mark Hedin at 510-293-2452, 408-759-1232 or mhedin@bayareanewsgroup.com.