TMA Education Foundation Grants Over $165,000 to Area High Schools

With the school year coming to a close, the TMA Education Foundation recently completed delivery of over $165,000 in grants to local high schools this school year.

Grants were made to Addison Trail, Cary Grove, Harvard, Lake Park, Prairie Ridge, Rich East, Rolling Meadows, Streamwood, West Aurora, and Wheeling High Schools. The funding, totaling $166,191.54, went towards machining equipment to strengthen manufacturing education programs at the schools.

"The future of American manufacturing is in these classrooms," said TMA Education Foundation President Bob Clifford of Acme Industries. "For manufacturing to thrive again, we must fill our critical skilled workforce shortage. That starts with providing students opportunities to gain exposure to manufacturing and the exciting and rewarding careers available in this field."

The TMA Education Foundation is the Technology & Manufacturing Association's non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to improving, sustaining, and promoting manufacturing technology education and encouraging the pursuit of careers in the industry.

Formed in 1987, the foundation increases awareness of manufacturing careers in high schools, promotes manufacturing careers, and encourages manufacturing technology training. TMA Education Foundation has donated over one million dollars in machinery, software, equipment, awards, competitions, instructors, research, credentialing and scholarships.

"It is the passion of our Board, Members, and donors to support future generations of manufacturing leaders," said Greta Salamando, Associate Director of Education Foundation Services. "By supplying funds for schools to purchase state-of-the-art equipment, software, equipment, training, and field trips, we help equip instructors as they expose young, bright minds to the potential of a career in manufacturing."