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http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...iser-For-Teams

As I said a few weeks ago, we have launched an exciting new fundraising opportunity for teams. Teams can arrange to show the documentary SlingShot, about Dean Kamen and his work, for a reasonable screening fee while selling tickets to raise the money they need for the season. Please see all the details in the previous blog. Already 56 FIRST teams – including FRC, FTC, and even an FLL team - from 22 states in the US have signed up! The very first screenings are just a few weeks away, and we’ll be sure to update you on the success our teams are having with this new fundraising concept. You can do some preliminary math for yourself though. Say you have 25 students on your team, and they sell an average of 5 tickets each at $10, by directing friends and family to the customized website the screening company will provide to you. Subtracting the screening, shipping, and credit card fees, your team will clear over $800 in one night before adding in any concession sales and additional donations they receive. With a larger team, or higher ticket sales, of course, teams can raise significantly more.

The documentary, directed by film industry veteran and FIRST Executive Advisory Board member Paul Lazarus, is an inspiring and entertaining portrait of FIRST founder Dean Kamen as well as an uplifting look at his SlingShot water purification technology. But, as I said in my earlier blog, in no small way it’s about you, and Dean’s overall mission.

Check out this excerpt from the film about FIRST:

http://vimeo.com/111654675

And this one, in which Dean talks about the need for science and technology heroes:

http://vimeo.com/97186489

I personally can’t recommend this film highly enough. I hope you’ll think about it for its fundraising potential, but even if you think it’s not a great fit for you in that respect, I hope one way or another you’ll get a chance to experience it.

Frank