Bosch grants $280,000 to local schools, organizations to promote STEM education in Michigan

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich.

The Bosch Community Fund (BCF) awarded $280,000 in grants through the first half of 2015 to several community and educational programs in Farmington/Farmington Hills and Plymouth, Michigan. The selected programs were chosen to support the focus of the BCF, which is to provide young people with hands-on learning experiences in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) subjects; the environment; and a combination of the two – eco+STEM.

The grants support the following programs in Farmington/Farmington Hills:

• Farmington Public Schools (FPS): A $74,250 grant allows FPS to provide STEM programs that specifically target underrepresented students in grades K-12.
• Farmington/Farmington Hills Education Foundation: A$20,477 grant provides for the BEST (Bosch Energy, Science and Technology) Program within FPS where teachers facilitate the implementation of innovative classroom projects that align with STEM or eco+STEM.
• Farmington Family YMCA: A $12,000 grant allows for the continuation of the YMCA’s Camp Riley robotics and engineering program, previously supported by BCF grants, that integrates math, science, engineering and technology concepts for 80 students during the nine-week camp.
• Peace, Love & Planet: Thanks to the $4,300 BCF grant, more than 800 Farmington Public Schools’ 6th-graders took a field trip to the ReCommunity Municipal Recycle Facility as part of the sustainable recycling program between Peace, Love & Planet and Farmington Public Schools.
• Farmington Community Library: A $4,913 grant supports the purchase of Mobile Magnetic Walls that will be used by preschool through upper elementary youth during drop-in use and scheduled programming at both the main library in Farmington Hills and the Farmington branch. Through play-based experimentation, children will be introduced to the STEM vocabulary behind scientific properties they experience everyday such as gravity, cause and effect, momentum and slope.
• Xemplar Club: A$39,060 grant is part of ongoing support for the City of Farmington Hills to work with the City of Farmington, Farmington Public Schools and other community stakeholders to compete in the Georgetown University Energy Prize (GUEP) competition, a multi-year competition that challenges towns, cities and counties to rethink energy use and implement creative strategies to increase efficiency. The winning community receives $5 million to promote and implement energy efficiency measures.

“We are honored to once again be the recipient of Bosch Community Fund grants that provide our students with innovative and interesting STEM education programs at all levels,” said Dr. George C. Heitsch, superintendent, Farmington Public Schools. “It’s exciting to see a global company take an interest and active role in the educational development of Farmington students.”

In Plymouth, the grants support the following programs:

• Plymouth Canton Community Schools: Building on previous BCF funding, a $69,206 grant helps secure STEM materials and equipment for the STEM Academy at Plymouth Canton Education Park and increase STEM programming in K-12.
  • In addition, an $8,294 grant supports bone kits for forensic science studies and the purchase of seven groundwater simulators for the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools. The groundwater simulators are part of an activity that allows students to study the movement of groundwater and how everyday activities affect our water supply.
• Friends of the Rouge: A $40,000 grant aids the Friends of the Rouge’s environmental education and stewardship efforts in the Rouge River watershed, providing opportunities for thousands of students, residents and concerned citizens to participate. Programs include the Rouge Education Project, River Restoration and Rouge Rescue, and the Volunteer Monitoring program.
• Plymouth District Library: A $7,500 grant provides supports a variety of hands-on STEM workshops and activities at the library for K-12 students, encouraging them to “think like a scientist” while participating in activities focused on experimentation, observation and deduction.

“Our students are the true winners and we are very grateful to Bosch for the educational advantage we are able to give them,” said Dr. Michael Meissen, superintendent, Plymouth Canton Community Schools. “Offering a full range of STEM programs gives Plymouth students the opportunity to experience a variety of subjects early in their educational studies, opening the door to a world of educational and career possibilities.”

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.

About Bosch

Having established a regional presence in 1906 in North America, the Bosch Group employs some 28,700 associates in more than 100 locations, as of April 1, 2015. In 2014, Bosch generated consolidated sales of $11.3 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 360,000 associates worldwide (as per April 1, 2015). The company generated sales of $65 billion (49 billion euros) in 2014.* Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Mobility Solutions, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 440 subsidiary and regional companies in some 60 countries. Including its sales and service partners, Bosch is represented in roughly 150 countries. This worldwide development, manufacturing, and sales network is the foundation for further growth. In 2014, Bosch applied for some 4,600 patents worldwide. The Bosch Group’s strategic objective is to create solutions for a connected life. Bosch improves quality of life worldwide with products and services that are innovative and spark enthusiasm. In short, Bosch creates technology that is “Invented for life.”

Additional information is available online at www.bosch.com and www.bosch-press.com, http://twitter.com/BoschPresse.

Exchange rate: 1 EUR = $1.32850

*The sales figure disclosed for 2014 does not include the former joint ventures BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH (now BSH Hausgeräte GmbH) and ZF Lenksysteme GmbH (now Robert Bosch Automotive Steering GmbH), which have since been fully acquired.

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Robert Bosch LLC
Linda Beckmeyer
Phone: +1 248-876-2046
linda.beckmeyer@us.bosch.com