FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – The Bosch Community Fund recently awarded four grants totaling $55,652 to schools and organizations in the Fairport and Rochester, New York, areas. The grants support science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and environmental sustainability activities for K-12 students. “We are excited to support Rochester area organizations in offering young people hands-on learning experience in STEM and environmental science activities,” said Andreas Torell, VP & CFO, Finance, Controlling & Administration, Bosch Security Systems North America. “Creating enthusiasm for education and careers in these areas is key for driving innovation and sustainable growth – a win-win for the future of the community and for Bosch.”
The grants were awarded to the following organizations:
- Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT): An $18,134 grant will support a pilot STEM immersion summer camp for 40 low-income, ninth-grade students from the Rochester City School District. For 10 days in July, students attending the camp at RIT will gain a better understanding of career opportunities in sustainability and environmental science and discover how good academic performance can lead to high-paying, professional careers. When the camp has concluded, participants will have access to RIT faculty for assistance in seeking out additional opportunities in a desired focus area.
- Fairport Central School District: This $14,098 grant aids in the conversion of an enclosed trailer into a mobile elementary maker lab used by more than 1,500 students each year. Middle- and high-school teachers design maker lab activities and follow-up lesson ideas appropriate for students in third through fifth grade. Lab activities focus on creating interest in STEM topics and teaching technological literacy in areas including technology, electronics, coding/programming, robotics and materials processing. The lab also is available to after-school STEM clubs and promotional activities designed to generate student interest in STEM topics.
- Rochester City School District: A $13,420 grant provides resources for students in grades six to eight to participate in the national Future Cities program. Participating students work in teams for four months to imagine, research, design and build cities that exist at least 100 years in the future. Program activities include using SimCity software to develop a virtual city, writing a 1,500-word essay describing the attributes of their city, creating a scale model of their city using recycled materials, and presenting the features of the city and their sustainability solution. Teams are judged during a regional competition in Buffalo, New York, with winners advancing to the national competition in Washington, D.C.
- Rochester Museum and Science Center (RMSC): A $10,000 grant provides funding for transportation and admission to the RMSC STEM for All program. With this support, more than 1,600 Rochester City School District students can visit the RMSC, Strasenburgh Planetarium and Cumming Nature Center free of charge during the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 school years. Because of the STEM for ALL program, many students from low-income families are able to access the learning experiences and exhibitions at the museum. “We are grateful for Boschs commitment to STEM programming and generosity as we strive to create 21st century learning environments that cultivate inquiry, problem solving and a genuine passion for learning,” said Brett Provenzano, Superintendent of Schools, Fairport Central School District.
About the Bosch Community Fund The Bosch Community Fund, a U.S.-based foundation established in September 2011, has awarded more than $12 million 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.
About Bosch Having established a regional presence in 1906 in North America, the Bosch Group employs some 32,500 associates in more than 100 locations, as of December 31, 2016. According to preliminary figures, in 2016 Bosch generated consolidated sales of $13.7 billion in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. For more information, visit www.boschusa.com, www.bosch.com.mx and www.bosch.ca. The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. It employs roughly 390,000 associates worldwide (as of December 31, 2016). According to preliminary figures, the company generated sales of 73.1 billion euros ($80.9 billion) in 2016. Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Mobility Solutions, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. As a leading IoT company, Bosch offers innovative solutions for smart homes, smart cities, connected mobility, and connected industry. It uses its expertise in sensor technology, software, and services, as well as its own IoT cloud, to offer its customers connected, cross-domain solutions from a single source. The Bosch Groups strategic objective is to create solutions for a connected life, and to improve quality of life worldwide with products and services that are innovative and spark enthusiasm. In short, Bosch creates technology that is “Invented for life.” The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 450 subsidiaries and regional companies in some 60 countries. Including sales and service partners, Boschs global manufacturing, engineering, and sales network covers nearly every country in the world. The basis for the companys future growth is its innovative strength. At 120 locations across the globe, Bosch employs 59,000 associates in research and development. Additional information is available online at www.bosch.com, www.iot.bosch.com, www.bosch-press.com, www.twitter.com/BoschPresse. Exchange rate: 1 EUR = $1.1069
