Welcome to the *FIRST *Alliances](https://firstalliances.org/) Spotlight, where we highlight awesome teams and programs that embody the goals and values of FIRST. We showcase these teams and programs because we believe *FIRST *teams should stand together and help each other (and their initiatives) grow to new heights. If just one *FIRST *team can accomplish so much, imagine what we all can accomplish when #TogetherWeInspire.
The first program we want to spotlight is LEAP (Linking Engineering and Philanthropy), by FRC 1540, the Flaming Chickens. LEAP is an offseason event that promotes community engineering projects! Each year, LEAP partners with a new non-profit to provide a challenge that teams can engineer a solution to. One of the main focuses of LEAP is to apply teams’ *FIRST *skills to benefit the community. LEAP provides the foundation needed to encourage other teams to start their own community engineering projects to improve the communities around them.
In an intense week-long competition, PNW (Pacific Northwest) FRC teams design and present ideas to create a new vision for OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) and the Center For Innovation in order to attract and educate teens in STEM. The LEAP competition is organized by Team 1540 and hosted by OMSI, with prizes provided by Autodesk.
You can learn more about FRC 1540 and LEAP (and perhaps get involved, or create a similar program for your area) at https://firstalliances.org/program/8/ and http://team1540.org/leap/. If you’re in the PNW area, we highly suggest getting involved (oh, and did we mention there’s cash prizes?)
Thank you, and see you again soon for the next *FIRST *Alliances spotlight!
#TogetherWeInspire #FIRSTAlliances