AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Jan. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- As the 2013 FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) robotics season starts on Jan. 5, The Chrysler Foundation awarded grants totaling $147,000 to 25 elementary, middle and high school teams in Alabama, Arizona, Indiana, Michigan and Ontario, Canada. The grants will help the teams offset costs associated with items such as registration fees, parts and materials and team apparel.

The Chrysler Foundation will award $29,000 in additional funds to boost the championship runs of teams qualifying to compete at the FIRST Championship, April 24-27, in St. Louis, Mo. In 2012, nine teams received additional funds. This year, The Chrysler Foundation has committed a total of $181,000 to FIRST teams and programs.

"The FIRST program is an ideal platform for inspiring the next generation of science and technology leaders that are vital to our industry as well as many others," said Mark Chernoby, Head of Vehicle Engineering and Vice President - Executive Coordinator, Chrysler Group LLC. "We hope that by engaging students at an early age, we can provide the spark that inspires them to become tomorrow's engineers."

The Chrysler Foundation has awarded grants to the following schools and their respective teams:

FIRST Robotics - $6,400 grant (per team)

Arizona
Kingman High School

Indiana
Western High School (Russiaville)

Michigan
Andover & Lahser High Schools (Bloomfield Hills)
Ann Arbor Huron High School
Birmingham Seaholm & Birmingham Groves High Schools
Bishop Foley Catholic High School (Madison Heights)
Chelsea High Schools
Dundee High School
Goodrich High School*
Grand Blanc High School
Hartland High School
Lake Orion High School
Macomb Academy of Arts and Sciences (Armada)
Notre Dame Preparatory (Auburn Hills)
Oakland Tech Northeast (Pontiac)
OSM Tech Academy at Clarkston High School
Oxford Community Schools
Pontiac High School
Rochester Adams and Stoney Creek High Schools (Rochester Hills)
Walled Lake Schools
Warren Consolidated Schools

*Two teams are based at this school

Ontario, Canada 
Sandwich Secondary School (LaSalle)

FIRST Tech Challenge - $1,500 grant

Michigan
Home Middle School (Fenton)

FIRST Lego League - $2,500 grant

Alabama
Huntsville City School System

The Chrysler Foundation also awarded a $5,000 grant to the "FIRST in Michigan" program to support district and statewide robotics competitions. 

"The Chrysler Foundation and Chrysler Group are proud to help students discover the rewards and excitement of education and careers in science, engineering, and technology," said Jody Trapasso, Senior Vice President - External Affairs, Chrysler Group LLC and President - The Chrysler Foundation. "We are equally proud of our employees who generously mentor students and serve as competition coordinators."

About FIRST
Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. Based in Manchester, N.H., FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs to build; self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology, and engineering. To learn more about FIRST, go to www.usfirst.org.

About The Chrysler Foundation
During the past 60 years, The Chrysler Foundation has established a proud legacy of enriching the physical, educational and cultural needs of local communities in which Chrysler Group LLC conducts business. Chrysler employees also have a strong commitment to helping improve their communities by volunteering their time and talents in the places where we live and work.

The Chrysler Foundation embodies the values of the Company and its employees and, since its inception, has awarded more than $500 million in charitable grants.

SOURCE The Chrysler Foundation