Mitsubishi Electric: Changes for the Better

Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation

MEAFnet

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Mitsubishi Electric Brings Solar-powered Holiday Cheer to Southern California Family

posted December 22, 2011
CYPRESS, Calif, Dec 22, 2011—On a sunny December day Mitsubishi Electric and Electronics USA (Mitsubishi Electric), a manufacturer of solar cells and modules, dispatched a volunteer crew of employees to bring the power of the Sun to a local family in need.

Mitsubishi Electric, whose US headquarters is based in Orange County, California, sponsored the installation of a 2.1kW solar electric system, which will cover 96 percent of the familys electricity needs, and save more than $10,000 on their electric bills over the life of the system. The clean energy generated by the solar modules will prevent almost 70 tons of greenhouse gas emissions, the equivalent of planting 200 trees, or taking 12 cars off the road.

The installation in Santa Ana was coordinated through GRID Alternatives, a non-profit organization that works with volunteers to install solar electric systems for low-income homeowners statewide.

Homeowner Esteban Fuentes assisted in the installation. In the currently challenging economic climate, Mr. Fuentes and his wife, Marisela, have been managing their monthly expenses carefully, while still providing the best possible home for their two children, one of whom has a disability. The family was an ideal candidate for a Mitsubishi Electric-sponsored installation, as helping young people with disabilities is the focus of the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, which supported the solar work day.

“The Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation encourages our employees to contribute their time and talent to strengthen their local communities,” said Kevin Webb, Foundation director. “This project brought together our companys commitment to clean energy with our commitment to youth with disabilities.”

“Our employees are motivated to make a positive impact in our community,” said Gina Heng, VP and general manager of Mitsubishi Electrics Solar Photovoltaic Division, and herself an installation participant. “We are delighted to support this project, which will deliver environmental and economic benefits for decades.”

“Every GRID Alternatives project weaves together immediate economic relief, green jobs, workforce development, and long term environmental sustainability with a tangible result: a fully functioning solar electric system that will reduce a homeowners energy costs by an average of 80 percent and reduce greenhouse gases,” said Susie Chang, regional director of GRID Alternatives of Greater Los Angeles. “The philanthropic and volunteer support of companies like Mitsubishi Electric helps us to bring the benefits of solar to the families who need it the most."

Mr. Fuentes expressed his gratitude for the volunteer team that helped make his solar electric system possible. "Thank you to Mitsubishi Electric for sponsoring our solar installation, helping our familys financial life and helping the environment," he said. “We will use the money saved by going solar to pay for our sons therapy.”

About Mitsubishi Electric & Electronics USAs Photovoltaic Division
Mitsubishi Electric is one of the worlds largest manufacturers and providers of solar power technology. The companys eco-friendly photovoltaic systems are used throughout the world to bring clean, reliable energy to residences, businesses, power generation plants, schools, factories and more. Mitsubishi Electric photovoltaic panels are marketed by Mitsubishi Electric & Electronics USA, Inc., and sold through approved distributors and installers. To learn more please visit www.MitsubishiElectricSolar.com or call 714.220.2500.

About the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation
The Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, based in the Washington, DC area, was established in 1991 by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation of Japan and the Mitsubishi Electric U.S. companies, which produce, sell and distribute a wide range of consumer, industrial, commercial and professional electronics products. With an initial endowment of $15 million, the Foundation has contributed more than $10 million to organizations assisting young people with disabilities to lead fuller and more productive lives. For more information please visit www.meaf.org.

About GRID Alternatives
GRID Alternatives is a non-profit solar installer that trains and leads teams of volunteers and job trainees to install solar electric systems for low-income families throughout California. The mission of GRID Alternatives is to empower communities in need by providing renewable energy and energy efficiency services, equipment and training. Since 2004, GRID Alternatives has installed over 1,500 solar electric systems and provided hands-on solar installation training for 8,000 community members statewide. These systems represent 4 MW of generating capacity, which translates to almost $40 million in energy cost savings over the systems’ projected life spans, while preventing approximately 130,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. GRID Alternatives also manages the Single-family Affordable Solar Homes (SASH) Program, part of the California Solar Initiative that is funded by California ratepayers under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). For more information, please visit www.gridalternatives.org.

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Contact:
Mitsubishi Electric & Electronics USA
Allison Arnold
714-220-6885
allison.arnold@meus.mea.com

GRID Alternatives of Greater Los Angeles
Myshel Prasad
323-710-2395
mprasad@gridalternatives.org

MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC HALLWAY GOLF TOURNAMENT RAISES $55,000 TO SUPPORT YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES

posted December 21, 2011
ARLINGTON, Va. — December 20, 2011 — For the fourth year in a row, Mitsubishi Electric employee volunteers at seven company locations across the United States turned office hallways, warehouses and factory floors into miniature golf courses in an effort to help raise money for youth with disabilities.

The 4th annual Mitsubishi Electric Hallway Golf Tournament garnered more than $55,000 to support schools and community organizations in their efforts to promote inclusive education. Employee volunteers raised over $21,000 from individuals and vendors, and the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation matched these contributions and volunteer time with over $33,000.

“At a time when the economy is still slowly recovering, Hallway Golf offers a dual benefit,” said Kevin R. Webb, director of the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, “It provides a creative outlet and morale boost for employee volunteers to do something fun, yet meaningful. The tournament also provides much-needed funds to support special education programs that have had their budgets slashed over the past few years.”

More than 1,000 Mitsubishi Electric employees participated in what has become an annual, marquee event for the company by designing and playing miniature golf courses around themes like movies, sports, and different decades. As in years past, students with disabilities played golf alongside company employees and executives.

Schools and organizations receiving funds from this year’s tournament:
• Rancho Alamitos High School in Garden Grove, California
• Hope School in Buena Park, California
• Free 2 Be Me Dance in Venice, California
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Cypress in Cypress, California
• Kids Included Together in San Diego, California
• Internvention Center for Early Childhood in Irvine, California
• Cooke School in Northville, Michigan
• Redford Union Schools in Redford, Michigan
• Ohio Valley Voices in Loveland, Ohio
• Tom Browning Boys and Girls Clubs in Maysville, Kentucky
• Special Needs School of Gwinnett County in Lawrenceville, Georgia

In an effort to promote friendly competition and maximize funds raised from the event, Mitsubishi Electric U.S. companies compete with each other to win awards for the Most Money Raised and Most Creative Golf Hole. This year the ACTiVE Committee from Mitsubishi Electric and Electronics USA, Inc received both honors.
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Established in 1991, Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation is the corporate foundation of the Mitsubishi Electric group of companies in the US, which produce, sell and distribute a wide range of consumer, industrial, commercial and professional electronics products. The Foundation makes grants to support national nonprofit organizations and works to engage company employees in philanthropy and volunteerism in Mitsubishi Electric communities by making matching grants. The Foundation’s mission is to help young people with disabilities maximize their potential and participation in society. For more information visit www.meaf.org.

Mitsubishi Electric US is in the Pink as Foundation and Employee Volunteers Support Breast Cancer Awareness

posted October 31, 2011
ARLINGTON, VA October 31, 2011—October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the country is pink all over. The Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation is a proud supporter of efforts to promote awareness of breast cancer and other chronic illnesses by matching donations of Mitsubishi Electric employee volunteers throughout the United States.

“We are proud to be part of the national effort to bring greater awareness and join the fight to stop the spread of cancer,” says Katsuya Takamiya, president and CEO of Mitsubishi Electric US Holdings and president of the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation.

Since its inception 20 years ago, the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation has worked to promote the full inclusion of people with disabilities in society, including survivors of cancer and other diseases. Nearly half a million dollars has been raised to support cancer fighting organizations.

As Breast Cancer Awareness Month draws to a close, the Foundation and Mitsubishi Electric employee volunteers are proud to be in the pink with others, like the National Football League. The NFL participation was recently featured in a front-page New York Times article with pink ribbons displayed on the Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Vision screen at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas.

MEAF Recognizes California High School, Boys & Girls Club with Inclusion Champion Awards

posted October 12, 2011
CYPRESS, California, September 30, 2011—The Boys & Girls Clubs of Cypress and Esperanza High School in Irvine are among 20 organizations selected by Mitsubishi Electric employee volunteers to receive Inclusion Champion Awards from the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation.

Esperanza High School was selected for its efforts to place students with disabilities in summer internships in companies, including Mitsubishi Electric Visual Solutions America in Irvine, to gain practical work experience in the community.

“We chose the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cypress as it worked to implement the national Boys & Girls Clubs of Americas Embracing Inclusion Program,” said Nicole Johnson, chair of the ACTiVE volunteer committee at Mitsubishi Electric & Electronics USA in Cypress.

The national program, which is funded in part by the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, aims to make all kids feel welcome at Clubs across the country.

A total of 20 Inclusion Champion Awards, which encompasses a trophy and a $1,000 grant, have been presented throughout the United States in honor of the Foundations 20th anniversary. Since 1991, the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation has been working to make changes for the better in the lives of youth with disabilities through its grant and employee volunteer programs.

“The Inclusion Champion Award is designed to recognize some of the outstanding organizations the Foundation has worked with over the past 20 years,” says Kevin R. Webb, director of the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation. “These groups have developed successful models to fully include young people with disabilities in society.”

Boys & Girls Clubs of Cypress will receive their award at a luncheon at Mitsubishi Electric & Electronics USA, Inc. in Cypress on October 5, 2011. Esperanza High School will be recognized at a separate ceremony at Mitsubishi Electric Visual Solutions America, Inc. in Irvine on October 6, 2011.

In addition to Esperanza High School and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cypress, awards were presented to:
• American Association of People with Disabilities, Washington, DC
• Central Kentucky Riding for Hope, Lexington, Kentucky
• Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
• Crayons to Computers, Cincinnati, Ohio
• Girl Scouts of the USA with Wilderness Inquiry, Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Kids Included Together-San Diego, California
• Lekotek, Atlanta, Georgia
• Locks of Love, West Palm Beach, Florida
• Marriott Foundation for People with Disabilities, Bethesda, Maryland
• Miracle League of Southwestern Pennsylvania
• Murray O. Kennedy School, Winder, Georgia
• National Inclusion Project I am Norm Campaign, Raleigh, North Carolina
• Partners for Youth with Disabilities-Boston, Massachusetts
• Redford Union School, Redford, Michigan
• Special Education District of Lake County, Lake County, Illinois
• TechBridge Girls, Oakland, California
• Tech-Link, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The Corps Network, Washington, DC

For more information, visit the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation’s fully accessible, award-winning website at www.meaf.org.

Tarjan Center at UCLA and SAGE Award Four Schools as Part of the SAGE Mitsubishi Electric America Fellowship Program

posted July 22, 2011
The Tarjan Center, in partnership, with Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship, (SAGE) has awarded four schools, as part of the SAGE Mitsubishi Electric America Fellowship Program (SMEAF).

City Charter High, an EPIC winning, urban school located in downtown Pittsburgh, PA, received the Spring 2011 Fellowship Award. 27 students, of all abilities, participate in City High’s SAGE program. These students operate Café 717, a City High campus-based store designed to provide healthy breakfast alternatives to socio-economically disadvantaged students, many of whom, do have easy access to quality nutrition.

City High is a full inclusion school. Students with and without disabilities participate in integrated classrooms and extracurricular activities, like SAGE. City High students are “thrilled” with their award and eager to start producing “Focus on Abilities,” a video to show schools across the country how powerful inclusion can be.

Additional awards were made to City Charter High, SHATO High of Oakland CA and Hiram Johnson High of Sacramento, CA, as part of the SMEAF PR Contest. The winning schools all designed logos and public relations strategies to help promote the Fellowship program. The winning logo (pictured above) was submitted by City Charter High.

Karen Leventhal, Director of the Fellowship Program, says “City High’s logo and slogan beautifully represent the spirit of this program.” The SAGE Mitsubishi Electric America Fellowship Program encourages youth with and without disabilities to become socially conscious entrepreneurs. The program is generously supported by Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation

About The Tarjan Center

The Tarjan Center at the University of California Los Angeles has over 45 years of experience conducting research, training and information dissemination to maximize the quality of life of people with disabilities. The Tarjan Center Service Inclusion Project (TCSIP) is one of the leading Training and Technical Assistance providers on including people with disabilities in public service. TCSIP activities have led to the inclusion of 5,000 volunteers with disabilities who have given more than 65,000 hours of service in their local communities. For more information about this initiative, please contact Karen Leventhal at kleventhal@mednet.ucla.edu. For more information about the Tarjan Center Service Inclusion Project visit: tcsip.tarjancenter.ucla.edu

About Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship (SAGE)

Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship (SAGE) is an international network that links innovative teenagers to mentors from local universities and businesses. Its purpose is to create a global community of teenage entrepreneurs sharing a common purpose: to make the world a better place. Under the direction of university student mentors, teenage SAGE teams create commercial and social ventures in an ethical and socially responsible manner. Additional information about SAGE can be found sageglobal.org or by sending an email to cdeberg@csuchico.edu or phoning 530.520.7370.

About the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation

The Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, based in the Washington, DC area, was established in 1991 by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation of Japan and the Mitsubishi Electric U.S. companies, which produce, sell and distribute a wide range of consumer, industrial, commercial and professional electronics products. With an initial endowment of $15 million, the Foundation has contributed more than $10 million to organizations assisting young people with disabilities to lead fuller and more productive lives. For more information please visit the webpage at www.meaf.org.

Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation
1560 Wilson Blvd.
Suite 1150
Arlington, VA 22209