The PPG Foundation recently donated a combined $10,600 to the Oak Creek Franklin Joint School District in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, to support a robotics competition team and the purchase of 3D printing equipment. The two grants were made on behalf of PPG’s (NYSE:PPG) local industrial coatings facility.

“We thank the PPG Foundation for helping our students experience engineering firsthand in a fun and engaging manner,” said Leo Alvarez, a teacher in the Oak Creek Franklin Joint School District. “For many, this is an opportunity to work alongside engineers and programmers.”

A PPG Foundation grant for $8,500 is supporting a new FIRST® Robotics Competition team at the high school. The students are building and programing an industrial-sized robot and will compete against other high school students from around the region March 24 to 26 in Milwaukee.

The second grant for $2,100 helped fund the purchase of a 3D printer and scanner for sixth- through eighth-grade students. The equipment enables students to use the designs they create as part of the district’s Project Lead the Way pre-engineering curriculum to make actual parts.

“We believe it is important to expose students to real-world science and technology applications, and these two projects do so in a very engaging, hands-on manner,” said Jack Marshall, PPG plant manager at the Oak Creek facility. “PPG is very proud to support both.”


The PPG Foundation aims to bring color and brightness to PPG communities in the United States. By investing in educational opportunities, we help grow today’s skilled workforce and develop tomorrow’s innovators in industries related to coatings and specialty materials. Plus, we empower PPG employees to make an impact for causes that are important to them by supporting their volunteer efforts and charitable giving. Learn more at www.ppgcommunities.com and follow @ppg_communities on Twitter.

About the Oak Creek Franklin Joint School District
The Oak Creek Franklin Joint School District currently serves more than 6,400 students residing in Oak Creek and a portion of Franklin. The district’s mission is to provide an educational program in a positive learning environment that will inspire, challenge and engage students in order for them to develop their full potential and become responsible, respectful and productive citizens. Learn more at www.ocfsd.org.

PPG: WE PROTECT AND BEAUTIFY THE WORLD™
At PPG (NYSE:PPG), we work every day to develop and deliver the paints, coatings and materials that our customers have trusted for more than 130 years. Through dedication and creativity, we solve our customers’ biggest challenges, collaborating closely to find the right path forward. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, we operate and innovate in more than 70 countries and reported net sales of $15.3 billion in 2015. We serve customers in construction, consumer products, industrial and transportation markets and aftermarkets. To learn more, visit www.ppg.com.