Mouser Electronics Sponsors Engineering the Holidays with STEM Activities for Local Students

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Mouser Electronics, Inc., the New Product Introduction (NPI) leader™ empowering innovation, announced its participation in the recent Engineering the Holidays educational exhibit at the annual Toys for Tots Event, benefiting families in the Mansfield Independent School District (MISD) in Mansfield, Texas. The popular holiday event was held at the Dr. Jim Vaszauskas Center for the Performing Arts on December 3 and featured science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) activities, fun attractions, live performances, music, food trucks, and more.

Local businesses and citizens, including Mouser employees, were encouraged to bring new, unwrapped toys to contribute to the toy drive, with the collected toys earmarked for needy families in the Mansfield area. The evening featured an "Engineering the Holidays" exhibit, sponsored by Mouser in partnership with the MISD Education Foundation, which showcased STEM activities, including creating a simple electronic circuit.

"Mouser's beginnings were based on serving educators and students. Encouraging an interest in STEM may be just the spark a student needs to get started in this field," said Kevin Hess, Mouser's Senior Vice President of Marketing. "This annual event enables us to help foster the minds of future engineers while supporting families that may be struggling this holiday season."

"Mouser Electronics has long been a shining example of what forward-thinking businesses and institutions can do to ensure our students will be prepared for the future," said Jennifer Kurecka, Director of the MISD Education Foundation. "We are grateful to Mouser for once again helping to inspire a higher level of education in our schools."

Mouser is the largest private employer in Mansfield, located in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. The company has a rich history of supporting education in the community. Mouser regularly donates to the MISD Education Foundation, funding STEM grants that enable teachers to offer a range of student opportunities. Previous Mouser-funded grants have supported the expansion of makerspaces in Mansfield High School libraries and the provision of drone technology and robotics kits to help students develop essential skills.

This year marks the 78th anniversary of the Toys for Tots program, which was founded in 1947 by Marine Corps Reserve Major Bill Hendricks. That first year, Toys for Tots distributed about 5,000 toys to children in the Los Angeles area. Today, the Toys for Tots program distributes approximately 24.4 million toys to 9.9 million children annually. Through their "Turn the Page" program, they also distribute backpacks, books, and educational items to children in need. This initiative ensures children have access to the reading resources needed to build skills, improve academic performance, and develop a lifelong love of learning.