The Chrysler Foundation Awards $133,000 in FIRST Robotics/FIRST Lego League Grants to Advance Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Jan. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

• 22 FIRST Robotics/FIRST Lego League teams from Arizona, Indiana, Michigan and Virginia receive grants of up to $6,625
• The Chrysler Foundation's support of FIRST robotics program and teams tops $1.7 million and spans 16 years
• Announcement reaffirms The Chrysler Foundation's commitment to training the work force of tomorrow

The Chrysler Foundation today announced the recipients of its 2011-2012 FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) and FLL (FIRST Lego League) grants to reaffirm its commitment to advancing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education as a means of training the work force of tomorrow.

In this most recent round of funding, each FIRST team will receive a grant of $6,625; FLL teams will receive grants of $500. In all, The Chrysler Foundation will award $133,000 in grants to 22 teams spanning Arizona, Indiana, Michigan and Virginia. The funds will be used to offset costs associated with items such as registration fees, parts and materials and team apparel. The Chrysler Foundation will award additional funding to teams that qualify for and attend the FIRST Robotics Competition Championship or FIRST Lego League World Festival. 

"The Chrysler Foundation and Chrysler Group are proud to play a role in encouraging students to explore the worlds of science, technology, engineering and mathematics," said Jody Trapasso, President - The Chrysler Foundation. A supporter of FIRST since its earliest years, The Chrysler Foundation has provided more than $1.7 million in support of the FIRST robotics program and teams during the past 16 years. 

Beyond funding, employees within Chrysler Group's Product Development organization have played an integral part in the success of the FIRST program – volunteering their time and talents to mentor students and serve as competition coordinators. Working side-by-side with adult mentors, students learn basic physics, electrical and mechanical engineering and machining skills.

"As an automotive company with a strong heritage of designing, building and delivering innovative, high-quality, segment-defining vehicles, we hope to provide a spark of inspiration to the next generation," said Mark Chernoby, Head of Vehicle Engineering and Vice President - Executive Coordinator, Chrysler Group LLC. "Bright and talented engineers are vital to our industry's future and the FIRST program is an ideal platform for developing a student's interest and skills in science and engineering."

Approximately 25 high school students make up each FIRST team, which has six weeks to design and build a robot to perform a prescribed series of tasks. In contrast, FLL teams are comprised of 10 children, grades 4-8 (age 9-14 in the US and Canada) with one adult coach. Teams participate in a challenge by programming an autonomous robot to score points on a themed playing field, developing a solution to a problem they have identified, all guided by the FLL Core Values. Past Challenges have been based on topics such as biomedical engineering, nanotechnology, climate, quality of life for the handicapped population and transportation.

About FIRST  

Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. Based in Manchester, N.H., FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology, and engineering. With support from three out of every five Fortune 500 companies and nearly $15 million in college scholarships, the not-for-profit organization hosts the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) and FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) for high-school students, FIRST LEGO League (FLL) for 9 to 14-year-olds, (9 to 16-year-olds outside the US and Canada) and Junior FIRST LEGO League (Jr.FLL) for 6 to 9-year-olds. Gracious Professionalism is a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community. To learn more about FIRST, go to www.usfirst.org.

About The Chrysler Foundation
A founding sponsor of the FIRST Robotics competition, The Chrysler Foundation has established a proud legacy of enriching the physical, educational and cultural needs of local communities in which Chrysler Group LLC conducts business. Since its inception in 1953, the Foundation has awarded more than $500 million in charitable grants. For more information, visit TheChryslerFoundation.com.

SOURCE The Chrysler Foundation