When you think of Cliff from Cheers, you probably don’t think, “He’s passionate about kids and their future,” – but he is. John Ratzenberger, aka Cliff Clavin on the legendary show Cheers and who also has voiced a character in every PIXAR movie from “Toy Story” to “Wall-e,” will be in Pittsburg on Friday, November 21, 2008 to learn about Pitsco Education, a company that has been passionate about hands-on education for 37 years.

Ratzenberger founded the Nuts, Bolts and Thingamajigs Foundation in hopes of averting a growing crisis in America – fewer young people developing the manual skills required by industries, workshops, and engineering firms.

“I’ve heard firsthand from dozens of factory owners that one of their biggest fears, apart from foreign competition, is how to stay in business when so few young Americans are capable of, or interested in, working with their hands,” said Ratzenberger.

Through Pitsco’s hundreds of hands-on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) products – such as the straw rocket launcher, CO₂ dragster kits, TETRIX™ robot, and bridge building materials – the company strives to instill wonder and curiosity in students all across America.

“Just as Mr. Ratzenberger hopes to reignite kids’ interest in tinkering and hands-on exploration,” said Pitsco President and CEO Harvey Dean, “we likewise aim to lead educational change that might result in more students choosing careers in science, engineering, and industrial technology.”

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