Getting ATI sponsorship?

I don't know who I should ask for this, so I'm asking here. I started a robotics team at my school. We're going to be competing in the FIRST robotics competition. This is a big international competition. I'm sure you've heard of it. Now we're going to be needing to make 3D models and animations of the robot in 3DsMax. However, the best computer in my school has a 2.4GHz P4B, 512MB DDR333, and a AIW Radeon 8500DV. We definitely need a faster graphics card for 3DSMax. However, the robotics team already needs thousands of dollars (estimated $18000 in total expenses) for other stuff. So I'm wondering if ATI sponsors educational projects like this. Do you think they'd let us borrow a FireGL XL or Radeon 9800 Pro if we have their logo on our team uniforms, robot, and website? There is a good chance we might be on TV so that's air time for them too. It's like cheap advertisement. Has anybody done something like this before?

I wouldn't mind getting sponsored by nVidia, but since we're a Canadian school and ATI is Canadian, I thought I'd try there first. Any suggestions would be welcome. Please don't close this thread, I don't know where else to post this, and I would greatly appreciate a response.

Simply email or call ATI! Most manufacturers will jump at an opportunity like this, especially for a widely-publicized, educational purpose. I got free RAM from Corsair, just by asking; you can do the same! :D

Heeey! If they do accept send a Radeon 9800 my way!:D

Good luck man, that would be awesome being sponsored by ATI!!

Quote:

---

Originally posted by xDUCK
I got free RAM from Corsair, just by asking; you can do the same! :D

---

How? :D and xDuck is right, there is a very good chance they will sponsor your team.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by lonewolfroger
How? :D and xDuck is right, there is a very good chance they will sponsor your team.

---

I just set up a forwarding PO Box in Guadalupe, emailed them saying I was a poor, blind orphan in Guadalupe, and I was in need of 512mb of RAM. :D

Seriously, though... I just told them about zeroBel and they were happy to oblige. Manufacturers are surprisingly liberal about giving out samples; the actual production of the card is laughable - it is the R&D that you are paying for, when you purchase computer components.

check pm

Quote:

---

Originally posted by PointlesS
check pm

---

Thanks...I was wondering if I should e-mail their PR myself first and ask them if they might be willing or I should write up a formal letter, with signatures from our engineering mentor, the director of the Canadian regional competition and our school principal? Or should I write an e-mail informing them that they can expect a formal letter? Or should I just get the school principal to call them up directly? If anyone is interested in finding out more about FIRST go to http://www.firstcanadianregional.org/ or http://www.usfirst.org/.

I'd opt to write a formal letter, but there's no reason to get your principal, etc, involved (at least no until the "final" stages). Just let them know of your situation, what you are requesting, and await your response.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by xDUCK
I'd opt to write a formal letter, but there's no reason to get your principal, etc, involved (at least no until the "final" stages). Just let them know of your situation, what you are requesting, and await your response.

---

Thanks, I just wrote one. I'll let it go through a lot of people (at my school) and through a lot of revisions though so it sounds just right, first.

Be sure to let us know how things turn out. It would be neat to see you on t.v.

"Next up we have Team fillintheblank powered by Ati!":D