Innovation + Impact: Honeywell and Carolina Panthers Celebrate Community Innovators Across Charlotte

This season, Honeywell reinforced its long-standing commitment to the Charlotte community through the Community Innovation Award, presented in partnership with the Carolina Panthers. As the Panthers’ Official Community Innovation Partner, Honeywell worked alongside the team to recognize and support local nonprofit organizations that are using technology and forward-thinking approaches to create meaningful impact across the region.

The season-long initiative highlighted nonprofits that are expanding access to STEM education, digital skills, workforce readiness and opportunity for students and families across Charlotte. During each Panthers home game, a Community Innovation honoree was recognized on the field for its work, with each organization receiving a $5,000 grant from Honeywell to further support its mission.

The 2025 honorees represented innovation in action across the community, including Carolina Youth Coalition, Digi-Bridge, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Foundation, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation, FIRST Robotics North Carolina, Dottie Rose Foundation, and The Accelerated Training Program (T-ATP). Honeywell has partnered with many of these organizations over the years through STEM challenges, product design initiatives, sustainability programs and workforce development efforts.

Throughout the season, fans were invited to vote online to help determine the overall Community Innovation Champion. FIRST Robotics North Carolina was selected as the 2025 winner and received a $20,000 grand prize grant, supported by both Honeywell and the Carolina Panthers. The organization was officially honored during the Dec. 28 Carolina Panthers home game, celebrating its work to foster robotics skills, confidence and career pathways for students across North Carolina.

“At Honeywell, we believe innovation should extend beyond our own walls and into the communities where we live and work,” said Sheila Jordan, senior vice president and chief digital technology officer at Honeywell. “By partnering with the Carolina Panthers, we’re able to spotlight organizations that are creating real pathways from classroom to career and inspire the next generation to see themselves in STEM.”

As an organization of Futureshapers, the Community Innovation Award reinforces Honeywell’s commitment to investing in education, technology access and innovative programs that create opportunity, amplify local impact and help build a more innovative future for Charlotte and beyond.