23 Jul Tullman Family Office Invests in a Global Future with $2 Million Donation to FIRST Global
Manchester, New Hampshire. – July 23rd, 2024 – FIRST Global, the international robotics nonprofit with a mission to inspire science and technology leadership in young people around the world through the sport of robotics, is thrilled to announce a generous $2 million donation from the Tullman Family Office for the 2024 season. This significant contribution will support the 2024 FIRST Global Challenge, themed “Feeding The Future,” which will culminate in an event from September 26-29 in Athens, Greece.
Famed inventor and founder of FIRST Global, Dean Kamen, expressed his gratitude for the substantial support. “At FIRST Global, we see firsthand how young minds, when given the right resources and opportunity, can create extraordinary solutions to the world’s most complex challenges. This investment in our mission by the Tullman Family is not just a financial contribution; it’s a vote of confidence in the potential of every student who participates in FIRST Global. Together, we can inspire a new generation to harness the power of technology for the betterment of our global community.”
Each year, the FIRST Global Challenge unites high school-aged youth from over 190 countries for the world’s most international robotics competition. The “Feeding the Future” theme for 2024 tasks teams with using their creativity and critical-thinking skills to design and build a robot from a standard kit of parts. FIRST Global teams must then maneuver their robot in a simulated world that emphasizes the intricate and interdependent relationship between water, food, and energy systems, while balancing these global resources to support a sustainable food system.
In addition to the robotics competition, FIRST Global teams will participate in the New Technology Experience (NTE), an innovation competition that challenges teams to explore cutting-edge technologies and develop solutions for the future. This year’s NTE follows the same “Feeding the Future” theme as the robotics challenge, charging teams with researching and developing their own innovative solutions to create a more resilient and equitable food system, highlighting how the application of these technologies benefits economic, social, and environmental sustainability.
The $2 million donation from the Tullman Family Office will empower the next generation of STEM leaders, with a special focus on engaging young women, to explore, innovate, and drive technological advancements, ensuring a sustainable and prosperous future for all.
“Like FIRST Global’s founder Dean Kamen, we believe in the power of innovative solutions to tackle our world’s most pressing problems,” said Cayley Tullman, President of Tullman Family Office. “The values of FIRST Global, centered on international collaboration and building a shared language through science, are crucial in fostering global cooperation and understanding. We are proud to support these young innovators who will lead us into a new era of problem-solving and technological progress.”
About the Tullman Family Office
The Tullman Family Office (TFO) directs our family’s philanthropy, political advocacy, business investments focused on social impact, and community engagement initiatives. TFO is committed to enabling all individuals to pursue healthier and more prosperous lives, enabling businesses to prioritize civic impact, and empowering moderate politicians to serve with reason and compassion. In the simplest of terms, our giving mentality can be described as patriotic philanthropy. Our family recognizes our responsibility to do our part to make America – and the world – stronger, safer, and more equitable.
About FIRST Global
FIRST Global is a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity established by the founder of FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), Dean Kamen. Our mission is to inspire leadership and innovation in youth from all nations by empowering them through education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics — also known as STEM.
Press Contact:
Matt Stalford
press@first.global
+1 (484) 574-2660
