Boeing

ST. LOUIS, Dec. 22, 2009 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that the company and its Employees Community Fund (ECF) of St. Louis awarded grants totaling more than $5 million to nonprofit organizations throughout the St. Louis metropolitan region in 2009.

Recipients of this year's grants will use the funding to support a variety of activities that benefit the St. Louis community in the areas of education, health and human services, arts and culture, and civic and environmental improvements.

"During this time of great need, we're committed to St. Louis and proud to partner with the organizations that work every day to make St. Louis a better place for their neighbors," said George Roman, Boeing vice president of State and Local Government Operations and St. Louis regional executive.

Cynthia Prost, president of the Arts and Education Council of St. Louis, said Boeing's charitable giving is vital to the area's nonprofit community. The Arts and Education Council provides assistance to approximately 80 nonprofit organizations in the region.

"With Boeing's support, the Arts and Education Council is able to provide much-needed grants to organizations that help to make our region a unique and vibrant place and ensure St. Louis' legacy of artistic excellence," Prost said.

Another grant recipient was Mary Ryder Home, which provides residential care and assisted-living services for older adults.

"Boeing ECF has for many years provided very generous support for our residents, who can no longer live independently and who often lack supportive family," said Tim Butler, Mary Ryder Home's executive director. "Boeing's donations have allowed us to offer these individuals the opportunity to participate in various programs that foster socialization and recreation, markedly improving their quality of life."

Boeing employees also provide nonfinancial support to St. Louis-area nonprofits, including more than 25,000 employee volunteer hours in 2009. Jan Rasmussen, chief development officer for St. Patrick Center, said the long-term support and commitment of Boeing employees help the homeless-services provider effectively serve the community and is essential to the center's ongoing success.

"We are seeing twice as many people who are in need as we did during this same time last year," said Rasmussen. "Thanks to Boeing's monetary donations and volunteer hours, we are able to help more of our neighbors."

In addition to its contributions to nonprofits, Boeing St. Louis also contributes nearly $800,000 each year to support local scholarships and other student-retention initiatives, as well as more than $15 million annually in continuing education for nearly 2,500 employees who attend colleges and universities in Missouri and Southern Illinois.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32 billion business with 70,000 employees worldwide.

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Contact:

Derrell Carter
Boeing Integrated Defense Systems
Office: 314-234-1362
Mobile: 314-365-4402
derrell.carter@boeing.com