Powering Possibility: Q&A With Robert Lee, President and CEO of Pioneer Circuits 

I was introduced to Think Together through a friend, John Lee. He was on the board at the time and later became chairman. That is how I first got connected to the organization.

In what ways have you and Pioneer Circuits supported Think Together? 

For years our support has come through private donations. This past year we also sent employees to volunteer at the Spring Kit Build for the summer programs. They had a great time participating in that.

Why do you think programs like Think Together are important for kids? 

I have served in under-resourced communities, including ten years in Oakland while I was a pastor in the Bay Area. I have seen firsthand that public education is not as comprehensive as it used to be. Schools face many cuts and cannot always offer the full range of services students need. 

Supplementary programs are absolutely critical. Afterschool programs give students extra space to reinforce what they learn in the classroom. In under-resourced communities, students are less likely to receive that support at home. Organizations like Think Together fill that gap and provide essential, effective resources for kids.

Based on your community work, what other needs have you seen in under-resourced areas? 

Literacy support is a major need. Statistics show that some prison planning uses third grade literacy levels to project future needs. That is how foundational literacy is. I used to tutor first and second graders because schools can teach, but they often cannot offer enough reinforcement. 

Another need is simply having a safe environment where learning continues after school. Think Together creates that space. That is one of the reasons we continue to support the organization. They do their work effectively and consistently.

My mission is to fuel the passions and possibilities of the next generation. For the last three decades we have offered internal scholarship programs for employees’ children to help open opportunities for them. 

Each generation should build on what the previous one has given. My family laid a foundation for me, and I believe it is my responsibility to pay that forward. If we have been given much, it should not stay within our own families. It should pour outward into the broader community. Supporting organizations that invest in future generations is one of the ways we try to do that.

I hope they fulfill their potential. That will look different for every person. Success in the arts, for example, looks different than success in science or business. What matters is that young people have the opportunity to develop their gifts to their full expression. Not everyone who receives opportunity will take advantage of it, but we have a responsibility to continue making those opportunities available.

What would you say to someone considering a donation to Think Together? 

Think Together has proven over its entire history that it knows how to steward resources at every scale. I used to think the best approach was always to give to the smallest organizations. Over time I realized there is also great value in supporting organizations that have demonstrated they can steward resources effectively. 

Think Together has done that time and again. Considering the communities they serve and the impact they have, it is a trustworthy and meaningful place to give. You can be confident your contribution will support good work.