[Squillo]

A few years ago, we (a group of mentors, teachers, and parents) formed a 501(c)(3) to support robotics programs on our island. The Kauai Robotics Alliance provides fundraising and logistical help to all youth robotics programs, including our multi-high school FRC team. We have helped to set up new programs (including providing seed money for our first FTC team this year), and we hope to someday construct a facility where we can have workshops and hold competitions (pipe dream, but we're trying).

KRA is, in turn, a United Way participating agency, so we get some money from the UW, which we use to support robotics. We have recently used the UW funds to hire a grantwriter, in hopes of reeling in more (desperately needed) funding. It's very expensive for our teams to ship parts here and travel to competitions.