Golden Ribbon Initiative

From Legacy to Liftoff

About Us:

The Golden Ribbon initiative aims to donate new or refurbished STEM materials to FIRST teams and communities in need. Golden Ribbon is operated by the Golden Ratio FTC robotics team #12682, based in Cary, Illinois. 

Our Mission:

We work to make sure that other FTC and FLL teams’ journeys can progress as far as possible, and that their seasons are not prematurely ended by a lack of funding or needed materials. We know how hard it is for some teams to fundraise, so we decided to give a hand to those trying their best but who just can’t seem to get enough sponsor funding.  Additionally, we work to motivate youth to take an interest in STEM by distributing STEM-related products.  Lastly, we support non-profit organizations that need tech upgrades but don’t have the resources to purchase the equipment.

The Three R’s:

Receive- The Golden Ribbon accepts most donations of new and used FTC, FLL, and STEM-based materials. Donation examples include FTC and FLL fields, perimeter walls, and up-to-date FLL and FTC field mats. We also accept still-legal FTC and FLL competition parts, as well as legal FIRST electronics like motors and control hubs. We also accept working computers, tools, printers, and 3D printers.  A tax-deductible receipt can be given for your donation. 

Restore- We work to restore all viable donated materials to good working condition and check that electronics are operational. This ensures that teams receive the best quality fields, parts, and technology.

Redistribute- The Golden Ribbon partners with FTC and FLL teams to ensure as many robotics teams as possible can access quality materials to support their season. Teams can reach out to us at our email, Goldenratiorobotics@gmail.com, and request parts or materials that they need.

If teams are not local to the Chicagoland area, a shipping contribution may be requested from receiving teams. Additionally, Golden Ribbon cannot ship internationally.  Therefore, parts would need to be sent with someone traveling to that country.