The Cost of Robotics 

It has always been the intention on River City Robots to provide a free, technology enriching experience for our youth.  That is not to say the organization can operate without money. To make our non profit organization work we rely on donations from individuals, corporations, and fundraising.

 Meeting time for the club is not all about building robots. Some time is set aside to discuss how we can continue to provide this great opportunity at no cost to the kids.  We are always looking for fresh ideas in fundraising and for vital personal connections with people and companies who see the potential that RCR and FIRST can have within our society.

The potential is best described by Dean Kaman, the founder of FIRST, during a robot conference in 2005:

“Ten, or fifteen, or twenty years from today, some kid in those stands will have cured Alzheimer’s or AIDS or cancer, or built an engine that doesn’t pollute. Somebody sitting out there is going to win a Nobel Prize and there going to be asked, ‘What made you go down this road?’  The probability that one of them is going to do something spectacular that they would not have done without FIRST is almost a guarantee."

As profound as that quote is, it doesn’t come close to encompassing the benefits for all the people involved. Everyone takes away something, whether it be learning to solve problems as a group while under real constraints or hands on learning in electronics, programming, mechanical design or building of the robot.

If you have fundraising ideas to share with us, please do not hesitate to share them.

If you would like to help us continue with our efforts or know a connection with an individual or company who may be interested in sponsoring us, please let us know!

For more information, go to http://www.rivercityrobots.org/sponsorship.htm.

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Remember, the benefits greatly outweigh the costs!