PRESIDENT ’ S VIEW
Manufacturing Cares Program Supports School Robotics Team
By Anthony Russo President , CIANJ
We ’ ve put 2022 to rest and are now gearing up for the New Year . But the spirit of the holidays is still flourishing , especially the generosity , kindness , and outreach of the season .
At CIANJ we like to salute the extraordinary efforts made by our members to serve and support their communities . Every year we highlight their initiatives in our “ Companies that Care ” issue . We ’ ve found that too often the good works of business go untold . Our May issue will be chock full of the fund-raisers , food drives and other unique ways our members make a difference in their communities .
As a preview of the impact made by business , we would like to spotlight the Manufacturing Cares Program created by the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program . NJMEP works with the 10,000 manufacturers throughout the state to improve their operations . John W . Kennedy , the retired CEO of the organization , marshalled the strength of the manufacturing community to create Manufacturing Care . It began as a food drive and has grown into a broad-based organization ,
which has ties to schools which hone the talents of young students . The skills they developed could be put to excellent use in many of the state ’ s manufacturing plants .
NJMEP recognized the many benefits of school robotics programs and committed to support FIRST Robotics through the Manufacturing Cares Program .
The goal of the mission is to bring more attention to FIRST Mid-Atlantic Robotics ( MAR ) which promotes and implements Robotics Competitions in the mid-Atlantic region . These competitions allow high school students to explore and engage with the Science , Technology , Engineering , and Manufacturing fields to create incredible robots that compete in structured matches .
NJMEP is working to support MAR by engaging the ‘ MADE in New Jersey ’ community of manufacturers to become mentors , volunteers , and donors . Organizations can sponsor MAR or provide facility space for these students to expand their engineering and manufacturing skills .
Corporations and organizations like Johnson & Johnson , FCC Products , Stryker , Picatinny Arsenal , BAE Systems and even the U . S . Army are already supporters of this incredible organization . Now , NJMEP and MAR want to encourage more small- and medium-sized manufacturing businesses to connect with students and young adults and encourage their exploration into industrial fields .
This is all made possible through a partnership with NJMEP ’ s Manufacturing Cares program . Manufacturing Cares brings together the full force of the ‘ MADE in New Jersey ’ s Manufacturing Community to support a variety of charitable groups . The Community Foodbank of New Jersey , Fulfill New Jersey , Morris Habitat for Humanity , Scholarships , and now FIRST Mid-Atlantic Robotics all receive the proceeds of Manufacturing Cares efforts . In 2022 nearly $ 20,000 was raised for New Jersey foodbanks and another $ 20,000 in donations is expected in the first year of the NJMEP- MAR partnership .
The Manufacturing Cares community wants to bring more businesses and individuals into the Robotics community , to ensure these students and young adults can continue exploring their passion which can also lead to an incredible career in the advanced manufacturing industry . There is also still time to donate to the Manufacturing Cares food drive in 2022 ! For every dollar donated , three meals are provided to those in need . Over the past 9 years more than 1,700,000 meals have been donated to New Jersey residents , most of which are children .
NJMEP ' s Manufacturing Cares Program partners with the MADE in New Jersey ' s Manufacturing Community to support Food Banks , the FIRST Mid-Atlantic Robotics , and Habitat for Humanity , among others .
Photos : NJMEP
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