Our mission is to inspire America's youth to excel in science, technology, engineering and math and provide equal opportunity to all.
We are building the future manufacturing workforce by initiating exciting and motivational learning programs designed to entice young people, especially females and minorities, to consider technology-based careers.
The SME Education Foundation, in remaining true to its vision of advancing technology-based education, has received considerable support from you, the donor, while we faced what proved to be an economic tsunami. And for that we are grateful.
Major industry, corporations, associations and an amazing contingent of grass-roots organizations and passionate volunteers made everything we accomplished, possible. It has become very obvious to us that those who do support us, respect and revere manufacturing and share our concern about its future.
Education in this country has become a more critical issue, all due, we think, to the financial structures of our economy being shaken, the cross-industry loss of jobs, and rapid advancements in emerging technologies. As our educational system re-shaped itself in a redefined U.S. economy, and the cry for skilled workers became louder, we placed accelerated attention on youth programs.
As we celebrate our 30th anniversary, we are realizing the benefits of our Manufacturing Education Plan which laid the groundwork for preparing these young people, the skilled workforce that will be needed in the next ten years – 2020.
These early initiatives involving technology-based summer camps, awards, scholarships and in-kind gifts and grants, have confirmed the progressive thinking of the SME Education Foundation in its mission to advance manufacturing education. Since 1980 our funding of these programs has proved to be an excellent investment—and will exceed $31 million in 2010.
Our direction continues to be confirmed and acknowledged by national organizations. We were honored for our altruistic and patriot contribution to engineering education with the 2009 Project Lead the Way Patriot Award, presented by Project Lead The Way, a nationally-recognized non-profit whose mission in furthering engineering education we share.
Your involvement made what we identified as possibilities—realities of the highest magnitude. Especially for the young scholars who have come to realize their dream of a secure future in an industry they enjoy. We hope they will work hard to influence those who follow them.
Everything we accomplished last year was because of your commitment and dedication. During our anniversary celebration I’m asking for your continued financial support to secure another thirty years of success. Please join me and make your tax deductible donation today!
Sincerely,
Khalil S.Taraman
President