Edison Young Inventors Program: 1993 to Present  

The Edison Inventors Association began to play a role in 1993 in this wonderful program. Under the guidance of its very own members and the 1989 co founders of this local young inventors program, Dr. Jed and Jan Klein, were looking for the energy to take the program into the next millennium. In 1997, dwindling funds forced the hands of these two dedicated people and to make a statement, they elected to resign from leadership of the program. On the brink of collapse,  measures were taken by the Edison Inventors Association to maintain and help grow the program.

Three entities quietly met in the summer of '97 to determine a course of action. The Edison Festival of Light, SONY Corporation and the Edison Inventor Association formed the Thomas A. Edison Regional Science and Inventors Fairs Steering Committee, with Jim Helms of SONY chairing. Community individuals and groups were invited to join the effort. It has been on a positive note ever since.  

The program was expanded from a county to a regional competition for the February 1998 celebration of the 150th birthday of Thomas A. Edison. Over 1000 students throughout Lee and Collier counties participated in the Young Inventors Program alone, with 300 semifinalists invited to the Harborside Convention Center to participate in the Thomas A. Edison Regional Inventors Fair. A $4,000 scholarship and two awards for the professional services of a patent attorney in filing for intellectual property protection (patents), were among the many prizes presented at the Awards Ceremony.

Program expansion has grown to include many thousands of student participants from Charlotte, Collier and Lee counties.  Approximately four hundred finalists are invited to the Regional Competition.  Volunteers and judges now exceed a hundred people. Every reasonable effort is made to run the event in a timely, efficient and enjoyable atmosphere.  

Creativity can be taught as well as enriched. Learning the process of what to do with one's inventiveness is the ultimate challenge of the program. Developing an awareness for business planning in the higher grade levels is now underway.  

Participants are encouraged to appreciate the everyday and not so everyday inventions we have come to rely on. Further, they are challenged to improve on what is presently available. Many choose to pursue inventions to help the elderly, the infirmed or the handicapped.

For inventions to be more that just ideas, children are introduced to the many facets of taking an idea to the market place. Additionally , they develop a better appreciation of what a product or service must go through to be available to the public.

Parents, educators, the general public and members of the Edison Inventors Association who participate in the program or view the student inventions come away with a greater respect for the innovative minds of our children. One can not help but take pride in the fact that the majority of inventions focus helping others in areas such as general safety, agriculture, construction, environment, leisure and sports, human and animal health,  medical equipment and education. The program helps instill self worth as children realize they really can make a difference.

Do not underestimate the vision or the creativity of a child.

The Edison Inventor's Association has contributed over $5,000 toward expenses to bring nationally recognized speakers to Southwest Florida.  Over the years,  members have contributed thousands of hours of volunteer time; and have acquired numerous awards from industry and celebrities around the country for presentations to students. Member patent attorneys offer prizes for free professional patenting services. Thousands of books on inventing and EIA newsletters have been distributed to schools and libraries throughout Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties.