FIRST Robotics Teams Gear Up for “First Stronghold” With $250,000 From FCA Foundation

January 5, 2016 , Auburn Hills, Mich. -  The FCA Foundation, the charitable arm of FCA US LLC, today announced $250,000 in grants to FIRST Robotics Competition (grades 9-12) and FIRST Tech Challenge (grades 7-12) teams in Arizona, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. The grants will offset the costs associated with items such as registration fees, parts and materials and team apparel for an estimated 650 students.

“The real-world experience that students gain through their participation in FIRST programs is invaluable in preparing students for the future,” said John Nigro, Vice President - Product Development, FCA - North America. “We are equally proud of our employees who generously give their time and skills to help mentor students and serve as competition coordinators.”   
 
The FCA Foundation’s grant announcement coincides with the official start (Jan. 9) of the 2016 FIRST Robotics design and build season. During this six-week phase, teams will build, program and test robots with the guidance of adult mentors. It’s estimated that more than 3,100 teams comprised of 78,000+ students from around the world will compete for glory in First Stronghold, this year’s design challenge. Teams that win their regional qualifiers will compete for the 2016 FIRST Championship at the Edward Jones Dome, April 27-30, in St. Louis.

VIDEO: View teaser for the 2016 FIRST Robotics Competition game: https://youtu.be/FVLdJdoKK2E
 
“We are proud to support an organization that taps into such formidable minds and encourages deeper levels of ingenuity within the pillars of STEM,” said Lesley Slavitt, Head of Civic Engagement, FCA US LLC, and CEO of the FCA Foundation.

52 FIRST Robotics Competition teams received $4,800 grants from the FCA Foundation:

Arizona
Kingman High School	Bionic Bulldogs, 60
Illinois
Belvidere, Belvidere North &  North Boone High School (4H)	Flying Monkeys, 3352
Indiana
Lewis Cass Jr.-Sr. High School (Walton)	Iron Kings, 5402
Northwestern High School (Kokomo)	CyberTooths, 3940
Western High School (Russiaville)	Panthertech, 292
Michigan
Almont High School	Shock and Awe-sum, 4961
Ann Arbor Huron High School	Rat Pack, 830
Avondale High School (Auburn Hills)	RoboJackets, 3538
Berkley, Hazel Park & Shrine Catholic High Schools	Da Bears, 247
Birmingham Seaholm & Birmingham Groves High Schools	Maple Machine, 2960
Bishop Foley Catholic High School (Madison Heights)	Foley Freeze, 910
Bloomfield Hills High School	Bionic Black Hawks, 2834
Brandon & Holly High Schools	Truck Town Thunder, 68
Capac Community Schools	Metal and Soul, 2604
Cardinal Mooney Catholic (Marine City)	RoboSapiens, 4779
Chelsea High School	Technical Difficulties, 1502
Dakota & Chippewa Valley High Schools (Macomb)	Cougars, 5650
Dundee High School-Dundee	ViBots, 4395
Ferndale High School	IMPIS, 1025
Genesee Robotics Area Youth Team (Fenton)	G.R.A.Y.T Levathons, 1322
Goodrich High School	*More Martians, 494 / Martians, 70
Grand Blanc High School	EngiNERDs, 2337
Gross Ile High School	Wired Devils, 5498
Hartland High School	Electro Eagles, 3536
Imlay City High School	Spartronics, 5048
Lake Orion High School	Dragons, 302
Lapeer County Ed-Tech	Galaktech Invaders, 3535
Linden High School	Robo Eagles, 3568
Macomb Academy of Arts and Sciences (Armada)	Fighting PI, 1718
Mercy High School (Farmington Hills)	The Riveters, 1481
Monroe County Intermediate School District	Virus, 3547
North Branch High School	BroncoBots, 5201
Notre Dame Preparatory (Auburn Hills)	Killer Bees, 33
Oakland Tech Northeast (Pontiac)	Juggernauts, 1
OSMTech Academy at Clarkston High School	Team RUSH, 27
Our Lady of the Lakes (Waterford)	Lakers, 5053
Oxford Community Schools	TORC, 2137
Pontiac High School	Wings of Fire, 51
Rochester Adams & Stoney Creek High Schools	Adambots, 245
Rochester High School	The Feds, 201
Skyline High School (Ann Arbor)	Eagle Imperium, 3322
South Lake High School (St. Clair Shores)	Cavbots, 5214
South Lyon Community Schools & South Lyon Robotics	Flying Toasters, 3641
Southeastern High School of Technology (Detroit)	Jungaleers, 4851
St. Clair High School	Flurb, 5843
Stevenson, Henry Ford II & Utica High Schools	Crevolution, 2851
Stoney Creek High School (Rochester Hills)	CyberCats, 5436
Trenton High School	Torque-Nados, 5090
Walled Lake Schools	The Monsters, 308
Warren Consolidated Schools	Steel Armadillos, 818
Waterford Kettering High School	The Captains, 3098

13 Michigan-based FIRST Tech Challenge teams received $400 grants from the FCA Foundation: 

Bloomfield Hills Middle School	*No Limits, 8593 / Mechanical Monkeys, 7047
Goodrich Middle School	Martians, 5289
Home Middle School (Fenton)	Lightning Boltz, 5954
Imlay City Middle School	I-Spartans, 8615
Life Learning Community School (Ann Arbor)	GearCats, 7305
Linden Middle School	Roboeaglets, 7031
Marysville Middle School	Jr. Vibots, 8688
North Branch Middle School	*NBMS 7065, 7066, 7067 and 7068
Our Lady of the Lakes (Waterford)	Lakers, 7583

*Teams share a single grant

Additionally, First in Michigan was awarded a $1,600 grant to support its First Lego League program, which introduces students (grades 4-8) to the fun and excitement of science and technology; and $60,000 in grants were awarded to 12 Ontario, Canada-based FRC teams, bringing the total amount awarded by the FCA Foundation for the 2015-2016 academic year to $310,000.
 
“Since 1995, the FCA Foundation has awarded more than $2.6 million in grants to FIRST programs,” Slavitt added.
 
FCA Foundation
The FCA Foundation is the charitable arm of North American automaker FCA US LLC, a member of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA) family of companies. The FCA Foundation invests in U.S. charitable organizations and initiatives that help empower people, build strong, resilient communities and generate meaningful and measurable societal impacts. In support of these objectives, the FCA Foundation focuses on the following foundational pillars: youth development, education, support for military, veterans and their families, and community service.