Medtronic, Inc. is supporting Edina Robotics FIRST Team 1816, The Green Machine with a generous donation of $10,000 to help underwrite the registration fees and expenses necessary to compete in the 2008 FIRSTRobotics competitions. Dr. Stephen N. Oesterele, Senior VP of Medicine and Technology at Medtronic, challenged the team to attract new sponsors, with another $2,000 grant to come when the team does so.
A delegation of team members, including 2008 captains David C., Dan P., and outreach subteam leader Sophie B., met with Dr. Oesterele at Medtronic’s World Headquarters in Fridley. The group presented an update on the team’s 2007 season, the expansion of The Green Machine as well as that of FIRST in Minnesota, and about upcoming local and regional outreach events.
“The presentation went very well, Dr. Oesterle was pleased with what [the team] has accomplished,” said David C. “As always, he gives [the team] a challenge to work on for the coming year. Lead by Alex N. and Emily H., our team’s corporate fundraising and marketing subteam leaders, we’re ready to go!”
The team is also planning another presentation at Medtronic headquarters this fall as part of ongoing efforts to recruit new mentors on behalf of FIRST teams throughout the region. The Green Machine will stage a “show and tell” meeting where both of the team’s competition robots will be used as demonstration models.
Corporate sponsorship provides the funds for the team to build its 2008 robot and compete in the FIRST Regional Competitions. In the 2008 season, the team may attend two regional competitions in the spring of 2008, including the first-ever FIRST Minnesota Regional in Minneapolis, and also to compete in the Championship Event in Atlanta, Ga.
In the upcoming season, the team anticipates expenses of $50,000 to $60,000 to accommodate a team of upwards of 40 members. The donation from Medtronic as well as that from other sponsors will be used to compensate for these costs.