New Entity Aims To Reach America’s Future “Tinkerers”

The Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs Foundation (NBTF) has partnered with the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International (FMA) to create a new organization dedicated to inspiring America’s youth to consider careers in manufacturing. The charitable entity, dubbed Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs, the Foundation of the Fabricator’s and Manufacturer’s Association, International, will be based in Rockford, Illinois, which also houses the FMA headquarters.

The new entity offers grants to non-profit organizations and educational institutions that introduce young people to manufacturing careers; provides funding to organizations that start or expand youth manufacturing camps; and issues scholarships to students pursuing manufacturing careers at colleges and trade schools. Former FMA Foundation executives Gerald Shankel and Terrence Egan will serve as president and director, respectively. Actor, director and producer John Ratzenberger, who founded NBTF, will continue to serve on the governing board and lead the foundation’s national public policy and media campaigns.

“This partnership combines John Ratzenberger’s voice and passion on an issue that is so dear to his heart with FMA’s infrastructure and resources,” Mr. Shankel says. “We will be even more effective at working together to spark interest among young people in the industry and help revitalize the future of manufacturing in America.”

For more information, visit www.NutsAndBoltsFoundation.org.