Boeing

The Boeing Company today marked 100 business days at its new Chicago headquarters by announcing the award of $1.7 million in local community grants. Single and multi-year grants were given to eight organizations with a specific focus on improving the quality of life in the communities where Boeing employees live and work.

"We've been in Chicago 100 days and have engaged ourselves in the Chicago community," said John Warner, senior vice president and chief administrative officer. "Being involved in the community strengthens our business and it is a part of our heritage, our vision and our culture. This is the beginning for what we see as a long-term partnership with the community," continued Warner.

The Boeing Company has a long-standing commitment to public education, especially K-12 initiatives. Among today's awards, two will support highly focused education efforts among Chicago's public schools. After School Matters -- a collaborative effort between Chicago Public Schools, the Chicago Public Library and the Chicago Park District -- is dedicated to engaging Chicago's teenage youth in high-quality, hands-on activities with caring adults in the out-of-school hours. Secondly, Boeing will provide a multi-year investment in The Chicago Public Education Fund, a venture capital effort for public education designed to improve school leadership and student achievement.

In an effort to bridge the digital divide, Boeing will support The Adler Planetarium/Hayes Family Investment Center Technology Apprenticeship Program. This training and mentoring program is specifically designed for young adults who are interested in information technology careers.

Helping people help themselves is key to The Westside Mental Health Project, a partnership with the Westside NAACP and the University of Chicago. Boeing's grant will fund the education project designed to reduce the stigma of mental illness in the African American community through a strong education process, thereby reducing the barriers to treatment.

"These grants all represent strategic and collaborative partnerships," said Toni Bailey, vice president of community and education relations. "Our philosophy toward philanthropy is more than financial support, it is focused outreach directed to real change in our communities," emphasized Bailey. The priority areas for Boeing's charitable contributions are education, health and human services, culture and arts, civic and the environment.

Boeing joined hands with its cultural neighbors, The Goodman Theatre and Lyric Opera of Chicago, both within walking distance from the company's headquarters in the Loop area. Two separate grants will underwrite the Goodman Theater's production of Galileo Galilei for the 2001-2002 season and the Lyric Opera's production of Sweeney Todd for the 2002-2003 season. Boeing kicked-off its cultural neighborhood outreach late last year by sponsoring Chihuly in the Park: A Garden of Glass on exhibit at the Garfield Park Conservatory through May.

The company, which last September moved into a building on the Chicago River, will also partner with Friends of the Chicago River in its Adopt-A-River program to encourage downtown stewardship of this unique environmental resource in Chicago.

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