Bosch Community Fund awards $477,000 in local grants promoting STEM education

Press Release
May 24, 2017

– Three-year $300,000 grant to support new Manufacturing Center through Dorchester Two Education Foundation along with Boeing and Volvo

– Nine grants fund community environmental activities and education programs focused on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)

– Since 2013, Bosch Community Fund has awarded more than $1 million in grants to schools, organizations in the Charleston, S.C., community

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich.– The Bosch Community Fund recently awarded nine grants totaling $477,000 to schools and organizations in the Charleston, S.C., community. Aimed at enhancing science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education, these grants provide resources for environmental conservation and restoration programs. With a particular emphasis on practical learning, initiatives like the new manufacturing talent development program for high school students reflect the Bosch Community Fund’s goal to foster comprehensive learning programs that help local residents and communities to flourish.

“The Bosch Community Fund is dedicated to enhancing STEM education and upholding our commitment to fund various initiatives by allocating grants to local communities, such as Charleston, S.C.,” said Kathleen Owsley, executive director of the Bosch Community Fund. “Charleston, S.C., schools, as well as organizations receiving our grants, are devoting time and resources to better the local area.”

The grants awarded by the Bosch Community Fund support programs dedicated to a variety of STEM and community enrichment initiatives, including student education, professional courses and environmental preservation. The Bosch Community Fund’s investment in local organizations, combined with the historical knowledge of the groups themselves, will help to provide a comprehensive and innovative approach as the programs look to achieve their goals. Grants were awarded to the following organizations, among others:

Dorchester Two Educational Foundation:This three-year grant will support the development of a manufacturing talent development program through the new manufacturing center in Charleston, S.C. The program, in partnership with businesses including Boeing and Volvo, targets high school students from surrounding districts and will help develop skill sets to correspond to workforce needs.

Trident Technical College Foundation:The grant aids in the development of curriculum for a new social/digital media and Big Data certificate program that prepares students for careers in related fields. Courses give approximately 140 students a year experience in social media marketing, data analytics and computer programming/software development.

Charleston Chamber Foundation:Grant support was given to help facilitate a STEM education and workforce development program designed to connect students with educational opportunities and industry experiences through career academies, scholarships, youth apprenticeships and dual enrollment with Trident Technical College (TTC). As a result, each year 200 participating Charleston, S.C.- area students graduate high school debt-free with a certificate from the U.S. Department of Labor, two years of paid work experience, and 30 hours of college credit.

Wounded Nature Working Veterans:The grant supports the Wounded Nature pilot of a coastal cleanup program that works with veterans, active-duty military and corporate volunteers to restore South Carolina coastal areas back to their original condition. The program improves the quality of life for citizens, increases seafood stocks and wildlife lifespan in South Carolina, and expands the region’s clean coastal area.

The Bosch Community Fund’s support of local educational programs is an important pillar in Bosch’s commitment to Charleston, S.C. Just as access to education and opportunities are important for students, so are collaboration and hands-on learning for those preparing to enter the workforce. By dedicating resources to technical initiatives like the Manufacturing Center in Charleston, S.C., as well as to local schools and educational organizations promoting STEM topics, the Bosch Community Fund is helping to bring diverse and innovative learning to the region.

“Charleston is a rich community demonstrating a commitment to science, technology and education that closely mirrors our own,” said Peter von Wartenberg, senior vice president and plant manager for Bosch’s Charleston facility. “Bosch is proud to dedicate resources to local organizations whose focus is to empower, uplift and preserve the region through education and vocational training.”

Bosch has had a presence in the Charleston, S.C., community since 1974, and the Bosch Community Fund has been awarding grants to local organizations since 2013. In line with the company’s commitment to the region, grant funding of more than $250,000 is awarded annually in the Charleston, S.C., area by the Bosch Community Fund.

About the Bosch Community Fund
The Bosch Community Fund, a U.S.-based foundation established in September 2011, has awarded more than $13.8 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.

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.

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