I Need Your Help

[Rohith Surampudi]

When presenting to a Company such as a private hospital, do what you can to try and get an audience with the Board of Directors, They are the big shots, they make all the calls about the direction of funding, if you know anyone who works in the administrative sector of the Organization, ask them for help, trying to get an "In" could be relatively difficult otherwise,

make sure you are well organized when going into the presentation, begin with discussing FIRST, and why it was founded, stray a little bit away from the generic "Engineering rar rar rar rar" stuff and into the Science and Technology part, Use Dean Kamen's Qoute about one of the students involved being the one that will solve cancer (i cant remember it off hand). Elaborate a little into Robotic Surgery, how students of the FIRST program will one day be building these machines, and better. Talk about how Engineers designed the mechanisms they cling to(eg. X-rays, dialysis machines, CT Scans, so on)

Next, be sure to discuss your team, focus on community impact, graduation rates, the amazing experience it is for these students, include a quote or two from a student, parent, or educator about the program and its effects(eg. First Means XXXXX and XXXX to me because XXXX....) make sure your presentation is almost emotionally moving.

Discuss why sponsors have made FIRST what it is today, how they've helped develop thousands of minds and support the effort to change a culture with its "priorities confused" The individual impact on students as well as how FIRST is about building partnerships, mention a few other teams who work closely with their sponsors to achieve great things. Then, go into what you guys are looking for, dont be too direct and just say (give us money) but talk about how you are always looking for support and the opportunity they have to make a difference. List ways they can get involved in the program, dont stress they must donate to you as if they happen to like the idea of getting involved, you will be the first people they contact. Make sure you have a robot there to demo if possible, let them drive, make it interactive, awe inspiring, get their minds going.


-RS

Its not an infallible plan, but its somewhere to start, just my 2 cents... Email/PM me if youd like more info or help with this