UTC encourages all of its employees to become involved in their local communities. UTC employees give an average of 50,000 hours of volunteer time annually. In Connecticut, Corporate Headquarters and business unit-led volunteer opportunities attract strong employee support.

UTC FIRST Robotics New England Regional

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a national competition that combines UTC's dedication to math and science education, innovation, technology and the community. High school students team up with professional engineers, provided by UTC and other firms, to design and build a robot that will compete in completing an assigned task. The teams have six weeks to build their robots from a standard parts kit and common set of rules set by FIRST.

Since 1999 UTC has contributed $1.4 million to sponsor the New England Regional FIRST Robotics Competition.

Special Olympics Connecticut Summer Games

In 2004, UTC celebrated its 27th year of partnership with Special Olympics Connecticut. As a title sponsor of the state Summer Games, UTC supports Special Olympics Connecticut with countless hours of volunteerism and financial resources.

Since 1977, when a grant from UTC helped establish the first statewide competition in Connecticut, UTC employees have volunteered more than 1 million hours to Special Olympics' athletes not only in Connecticut, but around the world.

UTC is the title sponsor of the Special Olympics Connecticut Summer Games and hosts the biggest sports venue: track and field. More than 1,000 UTC volunteers organize and operate two days of track and field events, serving as event managers, coaches, field judges, escorts, awards presenters, announcers and fans for the more than 2,000 athletes who compete.

United Way Day of Caring

Annually, hundreds of UTC employees throughout Connecticut take part in the United Way's Day of Caring events that officially kick off the United Way campaign. UTC employee volunteers work at agencies such as the YWCA's Camp Aya-Po, Central Connecticut ARC group home in New Britain, Conn., and Hartford area Habitat for Humanity.

Day of Caring provides many opportunities for workplace volunteers to learn first-hand about United Way agencies and other nonprofit organizations in the community. By participating in Day of Caring activities, employees see how volunteer involvement can have a positive influence on community problems.

United Technologies Greater Hartford Marathon

Since 2002, UTC has been the proud sponsor of the annual United Technologies Greater Hartford Marathon. In 2004 350 UTC employees volunteered at, or ran in, the marathon.

The marathon offers excellent exposure for Hartford. During the marathon more than 6,000 runners from all over the world visit Hartford to compete. Many runners bring family members and spend the weekend in the area, visiting tourist attractions and patronizing area businesses.

United Technologies Symphony On Ice

For 25 years, United Technologies Symphony On Ice has been UTC's annual holiday gift to Greater Hartford: a free holiday skating and music performance benefiting the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve's Toys for Tots campaign that gives toys to less-fortunate children during the holidays. Admission to the event is free with one new, unwrapped toy per person.

Since 1980, nearly 330,000 toys have been collected at United Technologies Symphony On Ice. It's the biggest gift-giving event in Connecticut, and one of the biggest in the United States, for the Toys for Tots program.