Reach & Connect — Expanding FIRST to the World
Beyond the competition field, we're building futures — introducing thousands of kids to STEM, founding new teams, and reaching across continents to spread the joy of robotics.
One of our mentors was visiting Zambia, Africa, when they discovered the Hillcrest Boys School — a school eager to learn but without access to robotics technology. We saw an opportunity to make a real difference across the world.
We didn't just donate hardware — we created a custom lesson plan for the students of Hillcrest Boys School so they could hit the ground running. The structured curriculum covered robotics fundamentals, programming concepts, and how to participate in FIRST competitions.
With the donation and lesson plan, the students at Hillcrest Boys School were able to start their very own FLL team — and they eventually hosted their own FLL event. What started as a one-time donation became a self-sustaining robotics community in Zambia, Africa. 50+ people impacted. International reach achieved.
Hosted a robotics showcase at the local library where 25+ aspiring engineers got to drive our robot and learn about STEM careers.
Brought FIRST and robotics to Fair Lawn community members, sparking interest in FLL and FTC among middle and high school students.
Presented at Glen Rock High School's engineering club event, inspiring students to consider FIRST and STEM pathways.
Promoted FIRST and STEM at the Gotham FC soccer game alongside Cosmic Goose and Galactic Pigeons. Had aspiring engineers drive and shoot with our robot, sparking interest in FLL and FTC among middle and high school fans. 9,000+ people impacted.
Introduced the Fair Lawn Amateur Radio Club to FIRST for the very first time, radiated the message of robotics and STEM to an entirely new audience.
Organized a community fundraiser at a local Hot Bagels shop, raising awareness and funds for our program.
Hosted a percentage-of-sales fundraiser at Panera, raising funds through community dining nights.
Community fundraiser at Qdoba, expanding our donor base and raising awareness in the local area.
Another percentage-of-sales event helping build our financial sustainability through local business partnerships.
Donated 2 Spike Prime & 3 EV3 kits + 1 laptop to Hillcrest Boys School in Zambia. Created lesson plans; students founded their own FLL team. 50+ people impacted internationally.
Gave us useful CAD sources to learn and expand our knowledge
Helped us create a Kick and Block Mechanism for our robot
Helped us with tuning Pedro Pathing for autonomous navigation
Our financial sustainability goal is total self-sufficiency — funding not just our team, but expanding the reach of FIRST to communities that need it most. Here's a full breakdown of our 2025–2026 budget.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Remaining from Last Year | +$2,338 |
| Donations | +$80 |
| Fundraisers (Panera, Qdoba, Habit) | +$350 |
| Corporate Sponsorship | +$12,000 |
| Registration | −$350 |
| Game Kit | −$350 |
| Apparel | −$400 |
| Food | −$100 |
| GoBilda Parts | −$2,000 |
| Custom Chassis | −$500 |
| Final Balance | $11,068 |
* Next season estimated expenditure: −$3,500
Through Employee & Corporate Matching programs — securing full sponsorship for this season and beyond.
Percentage-of-sales nights at Panera, Qdoba, and Habit Burger — local businesses supporting local STEM.
Raised through community outreach at Hot Bagels and local connections.
Hosted percentage-of-sales events at Panera, Qdoba, and Habit Burger, collectively raising $350.
Raised $100 through community outreach at local businesses, including Hot Bagels.
Secured $12,000 through Nonprofit Status via Hook Club Bank, leveraging Employee and Corporate Matching programs.
These organizations make our mission possible — from keeping the robot running to funding our Africa initiative.