Detroit Regional Chamber > Member News > Bosch Community Fund Partners with Farmington Hills, Plymouth communities to support STEM education, environmental sustainability initiatives

Bosch Community Fund Partners with Farmington Hills, Plymouth communities to support STEM education, environmental sustainability initiatives

August 10, 2017
The Bosch Community Fund has awarded more than $350,000 in 2017 to 12 organizations in the Farmington Hills and Plymouth, Michigan, communities, supporting science, technology, engineering, math (STEM) and environmental education and environmental sustainability. Headquartered in Farmington Hills, the Bosch Community Fund is dedicated to advancing high-quality education programs that empower its communities. As such, the grants provide access to education opportunities to inspire those with a passion for nature, technology, math and the sciences.

“Schools and community organizations are critical partners when it comes to access to STEM education, and we are committed to supporting them,” said Kathleen Owsley, executive director, Bosch Community Fund. “Our partners in Farmington Hills and Plymouth are on the front lines of making creative, practical education and hands-on learning available for all students.”

Through the grant investments, the Bosch Community Fund bolsters selected organizations whose mission is to provide the means and resources necessary for quality STEM education in the community, including equitable access to project-based learning. Grant recipients include libraries, school districts and similar organizations, all of whom are dedicated to helping students and those looking to expand their knowledge to achieve their academic goals. From nature excursions to hands-on robotics projects, participants have access to comprehensive and engaging learning opportunities.

Farmington Public Schools’ Superintendent Dr. George C. Heitsch said, “We continue to be grateful for the tremendous support that the Bosch Community Fund has given to Farmington Public Schools. The grant funds have provided STEM and other learning experiences to many of our students that they wouldn’t have otherwise.”

Such experiences are offered by organizations like Schoolcraft College, located in Livonia, Michigan, and its Kids on Campus program. By offering STEM-focused summer camps and learning opportunities to children in first grade through 12th grade, the organization looks to equip students with the tools they need for academic, economic and social success. As a recipient of a grant from the Bosch Community Fund, Schoolcraft College offers scholarships to more than 80 students so they can participate in STEM-focused summer camp programs. Camp themes include crime scene investigation, zoology, robotics and more.

The City of Farmington Hills Nature Center was also among those organizations that received grants from the Bosch Community Fund. With a focus on environmental and preservation topics, the nature center provides a variety of hands-on learning opportunities with the outdoors as an inspirational backdrop. From preservation- and energy-focused lessons to community-wide “eco challenges,” the City of Farmington Hills Nature Center creates unique opportunities for education and growth. The organization is using the grant funds to develop integrated “STEM in nature” school projects, green initiatives and community engagement programs.

Another grant recipient, the Plymouth District Library, is building out STEM programming and services that are available to all community members. Education opportunities at the library vary from access to enhanced research resources to unique, engaging weekend activities for families. Participants have access to modern technology while exploring scientific subjects, including solar eclipses, climate change, coding and more. The funding contributes to database upgrades, courses covering a variety of environmental, science and ecological topics, and similar initiatives for individuals of all ages.

“Plymouth-Canton Community Schools (P-CCS) is incredibly grateful to have Bosch as a valued partner of the district,” said Monica L. Merritt, P-CCS Superintendent of Schools. “The generous contributions of the Bosch Community Fund support advanced learning opportunities for our students in programs such as STEM, career and technical education, and our recent World Champion Lightning Robotics team. Thanks to its dedication to students and learning, the Bosch Community Fund is an integral part of P-CCS as well as the greater Plymouth and Canton communities.”

The Bosch Community Fund provides grants in U.S. communities where Bosch has locations. It awards up to $4 million in grants each year to organizations invited to participate in the program. Since 2012, it has awarded more than $1.5 million in grants to schools and organizations in the Farmington Hills and Plymouth communities.

 


About the Bosch Community Fund

The Bosch Community Fund, a U.S.-based foundation established in September 2011, has awarded more than $15.5 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 nearly 32,800 associates in more than 100 locations, as of December 31, 2016. 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. The company employs roughly 390,000 associates worldwide (as of December 31, 2016) and 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 Group’s 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 440 subsidiaries and regional companies in some 60 countries. Including sales and service partners, Bosch’s global manufacturing, engineering, and sales network covers nearly every country in the world. The basis for the company’s future growth is its innovative strength. At 120 locations across the globe, Bosch employs 59,000 associates in research and development.

Contact:  

Linda Beckmeyer

Robert Bosch LLC
Phone: +1 248-876-2046

linda.beckmeyer@us.bosch.com

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