Milwaukee-based Rockwell Automation Inc. will donate $12 million over the next four years to FIRST, a New Hampshire-based organization known for its Lego league and robotics competitions.
The donations will be in the form of in-kind and cash contributions. They also represent an increase over the company’s previous donations to FIRST, which stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.
Rockwell has contributed $15 million over the last 10 years to FIRST.
“Through our technology and people, we are helping to inspire the next generation of innovators to fill the talent pipeline for our customers and for our company,” said Blake Moret, president and CEO, Rockwell Automation. “Our strategic partnership with FIRST helps us increase our reach and visibility to STEM students around the world.”
Rockwell is a global sponsor of the FIRST Lego League program and the sole sponsor of the Innovation in Control award that recognizes innovative control system or application of control components to provide unique machine functions in the FIRST Robotics Competition.
Nearly 200 Rockwell employees donate time to FIRST programs and more than 300 others volunteer in other capacities.
The company also donates products to support playing fields and scoring systems for the FIRST Robotics Competition and Rockwell products are included in the kits teams use to build their robots.
“This generous, multiyear commitment from Rockwell Automation will allow us to focus on the strategic aspects of our partnership while continuing to help scale our programs and expose students to a broader range of industry-leading products and applications,” said Donald E. Bossi, FIRST president.
