HOLLAND, Mich., March 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Magna Donnelly and Magna Electronics, two operating units of Magna International, and Toyota announced a $25,000 gift to Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes (JAMGL) during a ceremony today at a Magna Donnelly facility in Holland.
The donation will be used by JAMGL to provide programs that advance innovation and entrepreneurship in a global economy to students in West Michigan.
Thanks to the commitment by Toyota and Magna to support this important work in west Michigan, students in kindergarten through grade 12 are able to continue experiencing the benefits of JA. During the 2007-2008 school year, 60,000 kids in the region will be impacted by JA programs.
"Magna Donnelly is thrilled to partner with Toyota in supporting JA's outstanding work in helping prepare Michigan students to enter a global workforce," Jim Brodie, Group Vice President, Magna Mirrors North America said. "We have supplied interior and exterior mirrors to Toyota for over 20 years and this dynamic partnership continues to benefit the entire community."
"Toyota believes in contributing to the communities where our manufacturing plants and other facilities are located. Through Community Connection, we extend that support to our supplier communities," said Sig Huber, Assistant General Manager of External Affairs at Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America.
"Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes has enjoyed a 21-year partnership with Magna Donnelly and we are delighted that they have teamed up with Toyota to impact young people in West Michigan through Junior Achievement," said William Coderre, JA President. "We will put these funds to work immediately preparing and inspiring young people to succeed in a global economy."
One example of practical training students receive through Junior Achievement is the JA Titan program, which exemplifies the innovation, entrepreneurship and workforce readiness training students receive through JA. This online program, built for today's cyber-savvy teenager, "hires" students as the CEO of a fictional company that manufactures holographic generators. As CEO, the student makes decisions about pricing, R&D, production, capital investment, marketing and philanthropy and leads their company to success in a highly competitive global environment.
JAMGL also has offices in Grand Haven, Traverse City (servicing the Traverse City and Cadillac areas) and Boyne City, where the Northern Service Office is located. The Northern Service Office provides programs to students in northern Michigan, including the Upper Peninsula.
JA Worldwide is the world's largest organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Through a dedicated volunteer network, JA Worldwide provides in-school and after-school programs for students in grades K-12. It offers educational programs focusing on three key areas: entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial literacy. Today, 140 individual JA operations reach more than four million students in the United States, with an additional 4.3 million students served by operations in 114 other countries. www.ja.org