Cart Serving the community in more ways than one
04/13
Charlie Weinberger, a TI project engineer working in Dallas, is a multi-faceted volunteer and community advocate.
Charlie Weinberger, a TI project engineer working in Dallas, is a multi-faceted volunteer and advocate. Not only does he actively support his community through the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, he has been involved in several technology initiatives that improve public education.
In the public education arena, Charlie served for two years as a sponsor and mentor to McKinney Independent School District's middle and high school Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology (BEST) Robotics teams. As part of this initiative, teams of six or more students build a robot from scratch and compete to have the robot complete a specific task.
Charlie also secured a sponsorship to fund summer technology camps for area students. Offered in conjunction with Collin College and several national technology initiatives, 40-60 students each year attend these camps to learn basic radio, antenna and digital signal processing (DSP) principles. Many of these students have gone on to pursue their education in a technical field.
"America needs a workforce skilled in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and most professionals already working in the field do not have time to look back over their shoulder and pull new talent into these fields," said Jeff Fant, director of the Collin College Technology Camp.
"Not so with Charlie. Collin's third annual Summer Technology Camp would not have taken place without adequate funding. Charlie's effort to find that funding and make the camp a success exposed over 40 middle school students to STEM fields."
Through personal donations, and the use of TI Foundation's Matching Gifts program, Charlie's family has also established a McKinney education foundation scholarship. The spirit of this effort has been extended to Charlie's oldest son, who also donated funds to support the scholarship.
"In my work with Collin College and the McKinney School District, I have been able to see the process used for securing grants. Much of this process ties directly to what we do at TI, and volunteering has given me the opportunity to improve my presentation and budgeting skills. I also get the opportunity to work with diverse groups in the public and private sector. Any of our United Way campaign activities are great for building interpersonal skills."
— Charlie Weinberger
Making a difference in the community
For the past 10 years, Charlie has participated as a leader in almost every one of TI's annual United Way campaigns. He has served as a United Way ambassador, ambassador coordinator, and most recently, as an assistant United Way training coordinator.
"Charlie's involvement in TI's United Way campaign sets the tone for success," said Kent Reimann, development officer for the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas.
"He has a respectful yet compelling manner of engaging volunteers and providing them an understanding of the legacy established by the TI founders, which is rooted in caring about others and doing the right thing at all times."
Since 2009, Charlie has also led a group of TI volunteers to participate in a United Way Day of Impact at the Salvation Army's Carr Collins Service Center in Dallas. One day each month, Charlie and his team of volunteers help serve 1,200 hot meals and prepare take-away meals for 600 individuals in five residential programs.
"Charlie exhibits the finest qualities any nonprofit agency would want to find in someone representing them," said Nancy Kerley, a Salvation Army representative.
"We are most fortunate to have Charlie, with his willingness to serve and his exemplary kindness and compassion that seems to flow from him naturally."
