Last week, Parker Filtration, located at 500 S. Glaspie St. in Oxford Village, presented T.O.R.C. TEAM 2137, the high school’s robotics team with a $500 donation.
‘Thank you for what you guys are doing for our community of students,? said Team Mentor Phil Kimmel to the Parker Filtration workers who presented the check. ‘It means a lot to have local businesses supporting us.?
Another team mentor Kim Shumaker agreed.
‘Because the team works off of donations the sponsorships are a critical part of our relationship,? she said. ‘Without them we really wouldn’t be able to function as a team.?
Parker Filtration is one of the largest Fortune 500 companies in the world. They make filters for compressed air and gas.
‘A lot of hydraulic equipment like John Deere and Caterpillar equipment. Things like the rides in Disney World, and even the Frito Lay factory,? said Dana Doebler with the Parker Filtration’s Human Resources. ‘When you open that bag of chips, it’s not air in the bag, it’s nitrogen and it comes through our filter.?
Doebler also said they use some of the same equipment T.O.R.C uses to build their robot.
‘We recognize a lot of your metal sheers,? she said. ‘We have similar equipment in the plant.?
The team has also recently received sponsorship donations of $2,000 or more from Oxford Community Schools, The Chrysler Foundation, Kettering University, KMT Robotic Solutions, Beijing Channel Consulting and DURR Systems, Inc.
Shumaker said they have received donations as low as $100 and as high as $600, but no matter the amount she believes ‘every penny counts.?
Team T.O.R.C. has also received material donations from Home Depot, Lowe’s, Lake Orion Lumber and U.S.A. Lumber Discount in Oxford.
‘The one thing I always tell the sponsors is you can extend a lot of things to people, but when you extend your name and your reputation that’s more valuable than the finances they give us,? Shumaker said. ‘We always try to represent them with integrity and professionalism (in order) to honor that name and reputation.?