Bosch Community Fund Awards $80,000 grant to North Carolina High School

- Bosch Community Fund awards $80,000 grant to Olympic High School - Grant supports high school’s Advanced Manufacturing Hub Machine Shop Project by purchasing needed equipment - Equipment includes drill presses, lathes, mills and CNC machining center CHARLOTTE, N.C. – By 2018, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts there will be an estimated 229,000 jobs related to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in North Carolina. To address this anticipated need, Bosch, which has long been a supporter of education, is dedicated to helping today’s students prepare for these important careers. The Bosch Community Fund (BCF) presented an $80,000 grant to Olympic High School in Charlotte, N.C. The grant was given to the Olympic Foundation to support the Advanced Manufacturing Hub Machine Shop Project at Olympic High School. On Dec. 11, Berend Bracht, president and CEO of Bosch Rexroth Americas, presented a check to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education. “Helping to foster students’ interest in and excitement about STEM-related careers is a priority for Bosch,” said Bracht, who also serves as chairman of the BCF Board of Directors. “We strive to provide resources to teachers and offer positive opportunities for students. Industry working in concert with academia is key to helping develop the next-generation STEM workforce. Preparing students for these jobs is crucial not only to the growth of the individual, but also to industry and to the communities in which they live and work.” According to Mike Realon, Olympic's career & community development coordinator: “We are thrilled that the Bosch Community Fund is making this kind of significant and meaningful contribution to 21st Century technical education at Olympic High School. This type of donation will go a long way in helping us to build an Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center here in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District, and to give our graduates the great head start they need in their future technical careers. ” About Bosch: The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. In fiscal 2012, its roughly 306,000 associates generated sales of $67.5 billion. Since the beginning of 2013, its operations have been divided into four business sectors: Automotive Technology, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 360 subsidiaries and regional companies in some 50 countries. If its sales and service partners are included, then Bosch is represented in roughly 150 countries. This worldwide development, manufacturing, and sales network is the foundation for further growth. Bosch spent some $6.1 billion for research and development in 2012, and applied for nearly 4,800 patents worldwide. The Bosch Group’s products and services are designed to fascinate, and to improve the quality of life by providing solutions which are both innovative and beneficial. In this way, the company offers technology worldwide that is “Invented for life.” Additional information is available online at www.bosch.com and www.bosch-press.com. In the U.S., Canada and Mexico, the Bosch Group manufactures and markets automotive original equipment and aftermarket solutions, industrial drives and control technology, power tools, security and communication systems, packaging technology, thermotechnology, household appliances, solar energy, healthcare telemedicine and software solutions. Having established a regional presence in 1906, Bosch employs nearly 24,600 associates in more than 100 locations, with consolidated sales of $10.6 billion in fiscal year 2012. For more information, visit www.boschusa.com, www.bosch.com.mx and www.bosch.ca. About the Bosch Community Fund: The Bosch Community Fund, a U.S.-based foundation established in September 2011, awards up to $3 million annually in grants to various 501(c)(3) organizations and educational institutions. The BCF focuses primarily on the enrichment of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education and the advancement of environmental sustainability initiatives.