Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation Announces $1 Million in New Grants

Focused on Empowering Youth with Disabilities to Enter the Post-Pandemic Workforce

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation announced today $1,014,600 in grants to empower youth with disabilities to lead productive lives through increased employment.

“For 30 years, the foundation has been dedicated to maximizing the potential and participation of youth with disabilities in society,” says Kevin R. Webb, senior director of the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation. “This past year, we met with our grantees to identify education and employment challenges and opportunities presented by the pandemic. Based on what we learned, grant projects were selected this year that are focused on helping young people with disabilities access jobs in fields that will help fuel economic recovery efforts post-pandemic. We want to ensure that people with disabilities have the opportunity to contribute their talents to the workforce to help create a vibrant and sustainable society.”

The foundation published two MEAF BRIEFs that helped inform its grantmaking for 2021:

 Distance Learning Strategies to Include and Empower youth with Disabilities

 Disability Employment Challenges and Opportunities Resulting from COVID-19

The $1 million in new grants will be distributed to eight organizations over the next two years.

Recently Approved Grants

 Aspiritech Nfp-Aspiritech Remote Employment Academy, $100,000 over two years

 Banner Health Foundation-Project SEARCH, $100,000 over two years

 Blue Star Recyclers-e-Stewards^® ADVANCE+ Impact Initiative, $150,000

 Conservation Legacy-Empowering Youth with Disabilities in the Outdoor Economy, $193,900 over two years

 Els for Autism Foundation-Work Experience Program, $100,000 over two years

 National Industries for the Blind-NSITE CISCO Academy, $95,700 over two years

 Partners for Youth with Disabilities-Career Readiness Replication, $150,000 over two years

 Science Buddies-STEM Career Discovery for Students with Disabilities, $125,000 over two years

In addition to these new grants, continuing, multiyear projects will receive $671,000 in 2021 funds.

Continuing Projects

 American Association of People with Disabilities-AAPD Alumni Network & Summer Internship Program, $100,000 (second year of a $200,000/two-year grant)

 Bridges from School to Work-NextGen, $50,000 (second year of a $100,000/two-year grant)

 Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center-Innovations for Project SEARCH, $60,000 (second year of a $120,000/two-year grant)

 Exceptional Minds-Academy and Studio, $25,000 (second year of a $75,000/three-year grant)

 GiGi’s Playhouse-GiGi’s Professionals, $75,000 (third year of a $225,000/three-year grant) and GiGi’s Learning Management System, $30,000 (second year of a $120,000/three-year grant)

 Friends of Butler Tech Foundation-Project LIFE^TM National Replication, $75,000 (third year of a $225,000/three-year grant)

 Gallaudet University’s Visual Language and Visual Learning Center Motion Light Lab-Merging Deaf Talent with 21^st Century Skills, $75,000 (third year of a $225,000/three-year grant)

 Perkins School for the Blind-Career Launch, $75,000 (third year of a $225,000/three-year grant)

 Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs-Inclusive Manufacturing Camps, $26,000 (second year of a $117,500 three-year grant)

 Minnesota Diversified Industries (MDI)-Career Skills on the Road, $20,000 (second year of a $60,000/two-year grant)

 The Uniquely Abled Project-Uniquely Abled Academy Time to Shine Project, $60,000 (second year of a $120,000/two-year grant)

 University of Hawai’i Foundation Center on Disability Studies-Turn the Tables: Reverse Career Fairs, $25,000 ( second year of a $50,000/two-year grant)

 University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability-The Disability Roadmap Project (working title), $50,000 (second year of a $150,000/three-year grant)

The Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, based in the Washington, D.C. 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 $20 million to organizations that are empowering young people with disabilities to lead more inclusive and productive lives. To learn more, visit www.MEAF.org.