Kia Motors America And DonorsChoose.org Form Partnership To Benefit More Than 125,000 Public School Students Nationwide In 2012

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- DonorsChoose.org, the online charity that makes it easy for anyone to help students in need, announced today that Kia Motors America (KMA) has made a $1 million commitment to public schools as part of the citizen philanthropy organization's first-ever national partnership with an automotive brand.  Kia's donation launches a Double Your Impact campaign with DonorsChoose.org, designed to fund 50 percent of classroom projects near Kia's network of more than 755 retail showrooms across the country as well as the company's U.S. headquarters in southern California and assembly plant in southwest Georgia.  By matching community donations, KMA will bring more than $2 million of classroom projects to life and the offer is available until all funding is applied to classroom projects.

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"Kia Motors is the fastest growing car company in the U.S. over the last five years[1], and one of our company's core values – 'Globality' – teaches us to strive to become a respected global corporate citizen, which drives our company to contribute to a better future," said Byung Mo Ahn, group president and CEO of KMA and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia.  "Kia is committed to making a difference and is proud to be the first automotive brand to establish a national philanthropic partnership with DonorsChoose.org to help provide school supplies for children most in need, while supporting all of the communities across the country that we call home."

Public schools in these areas nationwide are encouraged to post projects in need of funding with a total value of $600 on www.donorschoose.org.  The goal is to fulfill needs and foster innovation in public schools.  Kia will match all donations made to these public and charter school classrooms by citizen philanthropists until funds have been exhausted.

"DonorsChoose.org engages the community in public schools by giving people a simple, accountable and personal way to address educational inequity," said Charles Best, founder of DonorsChoose.org.  "Our new partnership with Kia Motors will deliver badly needed resources to more than 125,000 public school students across America."

Classroom projects that will be funded include requests for books, microscopes, field trips, and musical instruments among others.  Anyone can visit DonorsChoose.org to find a classroom project that inspires them.  Once the project reaches its funding goal, donors receive photos of the project taking place, a thank you letter from the teacher and a cost report showing how each dollar was spent.

About DonorsChoose.org

Founded in 2000, more than 238,000 public school teachers have used DonorsChoose.org (www.donorschoose.org) to secure funding for $120 million in books, art supplies, technology, and other resources that their students need to learn. Through DonorsChoose.org, individuals from all walks of life have helped 6.8 million students.

About Kia Motors America

Kia Motors America is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 755 dealers throughout the United States and serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA and LPGA. In 2011, KMA recorded its best-ever annual sales total and became one of the fastest growing car companies in the in the U.S.[1] Kia is poised to continue its momentum and will continue to build the brand through design innovation, quality, value, advanced safety features and new technologies.

Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its website – www.kia.com. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com.

[1] Based on 5-year cumulative growth between 12-month retail sales for periods ending July 2007 and July 2012 of all U.S. automotive brands.

SOURCE Kia Motors America