The Chrysler Foundation has been a supporter of youth robotics programs for the past 16 years, and today the company announced a series of grants totaling over $130,000. The grants, which range from $500 to $6,625, were awarded to teams of students participating in FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) and FLL (FIRST Lego League) competitions.

The Foundation, which is committed to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, will award the grants to 22 teams from Arizona, Indiana, Michigan and Virginia. The funds will be used to offset costs associated with items such as registration fees, parts and materials and team apparel.

Since it began supporting the FIRST competitions, the Chrysler Foundation has provided over $1.7 million in grants and support for the youth robotics programs.

Additional award funding will be available to teams that qualify for and attend the FIRST Robotics Competition Championship or FIRST Lego League World Festival.

Jody Trapasso, President of The Chrysler Foundation, said, “The Chrysler Foundation and Chrysler Group are proud to play a role in encouraging students to explore the worlds of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.”

In addition to providing funding, employees within Chrysler Group’s Product Development organization have been known to volunteer their time to mentor students and help them learn basic physics, electrical/mechanical engineering, and machining skills.