FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JULY 31, 2023
Queen City Robotics Alliance
Press Contact: Kaiwen Cheng, President
kaiwencheng@queencityrobotics.org

Queen City Robotics Alliance to Hold Fundraiser to Support Move to New Location
Help Support QCRA at Hops & Bots: A Techy Fundraising Evening

Charlotte, NC: Great news! After a long, extensive search, Queen City Robotics Alliance (QCRA) will move into its new home at 2102 Cambridge Beltway Dr. in Charlotte’s Ayrsley West neighborhood on September 1, 2023. The organization is thrilled to have a new place for 14 of Charlotte’s youth robotics teams (FIRST Lego League, FIRST Tech Challenge, and FIRST Robotic Competition) along with equipment, practice space, and meeting rooms. The best part is the organization will have room to add even more teams to continue the growth of this fun and educational youth program.

“It’s exciting to move into a new space,” said QCRA Board of Directors member Christian Dow. “Our previous space was one large open room making it difficult when more than one team was in the building. The new space will have different rooms, more room for tools and equipment, and even a practice field. [QCRA] will be able to support more teams at one time under one roof.”

QCRA’s President Kaiwen Cheng adds that the new space will provide more versatility. While one team is practicing with their robots, another team can be in a breakout room brainstorming ideas or writing programs. Cheng also adds that the new space has air conditioning, a huge plus for expanding their summer camp programs.

While excited about the move, a bigger space means bigger bills and Cheng adds that QCRA will face significant upfront costs involved with moving and setting up the new workshop space. To help fund the move, the organization is hosting a Hops & Bots fundraiser at Brewers at 4001 Yancey, Yancey Road, in Charlotte, on Wednesday, August 9, from 5:30 to 8 PM EDT. Not only can the public help support this educational non-profit, but they will also get the opportunity to hear more about the organization and how it supports K-12 students in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area to blossom while learning Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) skills through training and team robotics building and competitions.

The evening will include:
• Enjoy networking with fellow supporters, organizers, and sponsors.
• Fundraising activities include a silent auction and 50/50 raffle.
• Listen to presentations on robotics and technology by Brad Klippstein, Product Manager at BOSCH Rexroth, David Schwebel, Head of Strategy, RightHard Robotics, and Bill Webb, Automation Engineering Manager, Ashley Furniture Industries.
• Information for parents, individuals, and businesses on how QCRA’s programs create the workforce of tomorrow.
• Enjoy a live robotics demonstration by Charlotte’s FIRST Robotics Competition YETI Robotics high school team, who qualified for the FRC World Championships in Houston in 2023.
• Tickets are $45-60 (plus fees) and include food and beverage options. VIP Experience tickets with food, beverage, and special gift are also available for $180 (plus fees).
• More details and tickets are available at EventBrite: Hops and Bots: A Techy Fundraising Evening Tickets, Wed, Aug 9, 2023 at 5:30 PM | Eventbrite

ABOUT QCRA: What began with a single robotics team in 2011, Queen City Robotics Alliance has grown into a non-profit organization that supports students in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area through participation in FIRST Robotics events and competitions. QCRA leverages Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) to help youth learn life lessons and workplace skills through teamwork, technology, business, and communication. QCRA provides a common place for 14 Charlotte area FIRST Robotics teams to meet, use tools and equipment, to learn STEM skills, work on projects, meet a diversified student body, and to have fun while building and working with robots alongside the members of their teams.

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CONTACTS: Carrie Dow, media volunteer. 303-523-3758, carriedow@queencityrobotics.org
Linda Yang media volunteer, lindayang@queencityrobotics.org
QCRA (queencityrobotics.org)