PTDA Foundation raises $225,000 to fuel scholarships, career awareness
The PTDA Foundation concluded its 2026 Fund Drive on Aug. 31, raising nearly $255,000 to support programs designed to introduce more people to careers in the power transmission/motion control (PT/MC) industry and help develop those already building careers in it.
More than 90 PT/MC companies and individuals contributed to the annual campaign.
Throughout 2026, donor support translated into tangible results, from scholarships for students and current industry employees to new workforce recruitment resources that PT/MC companies can put to work themselves.
“Every contribution to the Fund Drive helps move the Foundation’s workforce mission forward,” said PTDA Foundation President Mike McLain, general manager, Allied Bearing & Supply, Inc. “What’s especially exciting about this year is that donors can see their support at work in very concrete ways—helping people pursue their education, supporting employees already building careers in our industry and giving companies new tools to introduce the next generation to PT/MC.”
Investing in Education and Industry Talent
In 2026, the PTDA Foundation awarded $39,000 in scholarships to students preparing for their careers and employees already working in the PT/MC industry.
Eight students received scholarships totaling $24,000 to support their studies at schools including Carnegie Mellon University, University of Alabama, University of Georgia, Texas State Technical College, University of Utah, Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College, and more.
An additional $15,000 in employee scholarships was awarded to six recipients from Bearing Distributors, Inc., Daido Corporation of America, LUBRIPLATE® Lubricants Company and Sumitomo Machinery Corp. of America.
Together, these awards support the next generation of talent while helping current PT/MC employees continue their education and professional development. Read about all the recipients at ptdafoundation.org/scholarships.
Bringing PT/MC Careers to Life
The PTDA Foundation also reached an important milestone in its Building Awareness initiative with the launch of the first of two new customizable Start Your Career. Move the World. videos.
The inaugural video shows prospective employees how PT/MC careers support the products, systems and industries that keep the world moving. Its montage replaces conventional descriptions of industrial careers with vivid examples of the industry’s workplaces, opportunities and real-world impact.
PT/MC employers can ask for the last frame of the video be customized with their company logo and website at no cost, turning a PTDA Foundation-funded awareness resource into a recruitment tool they can use in their own hiring efforts.
A second customizable video will launch in October 2026 as the PTDA Foundation continues expanding the resources available to help companies tell the PT/MC career story.
The Foundation said the accomplishments reflect the purpose behind the annual Fund Drive: pooling contributions from across the PT/MC community to tackle workforce challenges that are bigger than any one company.
INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY MAGAZINE
The September/October issue of Industrial Supply magazine features an in-depth cover story about Rotator Products. Plus, we're featuring articles by contributing writers Dr. Bharani Nagarathnam and Frank Hurtte, as well as interviews with numerous product and distribution industry experts.
