GM Foundation and PACE Give $87,700 to Howard University

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The General Motors Foundation and the Partners for the Advancement of Collaborative Engineering Education announced an $87,700 combined donation to Howard University at the Washington Auto Show today.

The presentation, made by GM Vice President of Global Design and GM Foundation Board member Ed Welburn, is part of the longstanding partnership with Howard University and the Foundation's dedication to education initiatives in communities across the country.

"For more than 30 years we've provided ongoing support to Howard University as a key institution in developing world-class engineering, manufacturing, design and business talent," said Welburn. "There is a critical need for these types of skill sets across the industry right now as automotive companies retool to meet the demands of more technologically advanced vehicles. The GM Foundation and PACE grants are designed to help young people gain the knowledge they will need to meet these challenges."

Along with the Foundation's $70,000, PACE, the corporate alliance between GM, Autodesk, Hewlett-Packard, Siemens PLM Software and Oracle, provided $17,700 worth of in-kind donations of computer-based hardware, software and other tooling equipment.

"Howard's enduring partnership with GM and PACE is a model of what together we achieve by recognizing the importance of imprinting academia with unique perspectives, inputs and opportunities from industry," said James Mitchell, Ph.D., dean of the Howard University College of Engineering, Architecture, and Computer Sciences.

"Together we are producing highly trained graduates in both theory and practice. This synergy is essential for educating the human talent pools required for US competitiveness," Mitchell said.

The grant also will support the continuation of the Corporate Team Adoption Program, in which GM engineers, designers and other company representatives mentor and guide student teams with special projects, job site tours and identify professional opportunities.

Welburn, a Howard University alumus, was hired as a GM associate designer in 1972. He rose through the ranks to become only the sixth Vice President of Global Design in GM's 102-year history.

"I knew at the age of eight when I toured the Philadelphia Auto Show and first saw the Cadillac Cyclone concept that I wanted to be a car designer," said Welburn.  "The educational and life-experiences I gained at Howard allowed me to quickly become a contributing member of GM's design. The GM Foundation is committed to continuing the legacy of developing our next generation of leaders."

About the GM Foundation:

Since its inception in 1976, the GM Foundation has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to deserving American charities, educational organizations and to disaster relief efforts worldwide. The GM Foundation focuses on supporting Education, Health and Human Services, Environment and Energy and Community Development initiatives, mainly in the communities where GM operates. For more information, visit www.gm.com/corporate/responsibility/community.

About PACE:

Since 1999, The Partners for the Advancement of Collaborative Engineering Education (PACE) has linked GM, Autodesk, Hewlett-Packard, Siemens PLM Software and Oracle to support strategically-selected academic institutions worldwide, to develop the automotive product lifecycle management team of the future.  For more information about PACE, visit www.pacepartners.org.

SOURCE General Motors