Award recognizes Mitsubishi Electrics Organized Volunteer Efforts to help Youth with Disabilities

VERNON HILLS, IL, August 23, 2016 — Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation awarded its annual M.O.V.E. (Mitsubishi Organized Volunteer Efforts) Award to the VISION Committee at Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc. located in Vernon Hills, Illinois, for its "Global Youth Service Day" project at the Sunrise Lake Outdoor Education Center.

VISION (Volunteers in Service Intent on Needs) is a committee of Mitsubishi Electric Automation employee volunteers committed to volunteer service in their community. A long-time supporter of the Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization (NSSEO), VISION dispatched 47 volunteers to NSSEOs Sunrise Lake Outdoor Education Center in Bartlett, Illinois this spring for its annual Global Youth Service Day to assist with a variety of outdoor classroom improvement projects, including splitting firewood, building fences and repairing hiking trails. The Committee donated a total of 376 volunteer hours, and more than $10,000 to support Sunrise Lake, which provides opportunities for students with disabilities to learn experientially.

"In addition to the physical improvements made to the school, VISION Committee volunteers held mock interviews with students at Sunrise Lake to prepare them for real interviews when they enter the job-market," says Kevin R. Webb, senior director of the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation. "This nicely dovetails with the Foundations national M>PWR Initiative, designed to empower youth with disabilities to lead productive lives, which is why we are particularly excited to present this years M.O.V.E. award to the VISION Committee," continued Webb.

The Global Youth Service Day project was chosen from a field of seven equally deserving, U.S.-based projects to receive the 2016 M.O.V.E. Award by a selection committee made up of employee representatives from the Mitsubishi Electric US group companies. The M.O.V.E. Award consists of a trophy for the VISION Committee and a $1,000 grant to NSSEO from the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation.

The Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation 2016 M.O.V.E. Award was presented by the Foundations program officer, Tara Havlicek, to VISION committee chair Yazmin Yepez in a ceremony held at Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc. today. Ms. Havlicek and Ms. Yepez were joined by Toshio Kawai, president, and David Rebmann, vice president of Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc. in presenting the $1,000 grant to Bryan Bolger, outdoor education specialist with NSSEO.

Upon receiving the award, Mr. Bolger stated, "I want to sincerely thank Mitsubishi Electric Automation Inc. for the tremendous support the company and its volunteers have provided to NSSEOs Sunrise Lake Outdoor Education Center for more than 20 years. Your partnership with NSSEO has enabled students to experience a wide variety of learning experiences and to become contributing members of our society. On behalf of the students we serve, Id like to thank the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation for recognizing the VISION Committees volunteer efforts and for your unwavering commitment to Sunrise Lake students with this award."

The Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, based in the Washington, DC area, was established in 1991 by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and the Mitsubishi Electric U.S. companies, which produce, sell and distribute a wide range of consumer, industrial, commercial and professional electronics products. The Foundation has contributed more than $14 million to organizations that are empowering young people with disabilities to lead more inclusive and productive lives.

To learn more, visit the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundations website at www.MEAF.org.