Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation: Fifteen Years of Helping "Because it Matters"
Nikon: Desert Paintings Feature in Youth Art Competition



The mission of the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation (MEAF) is to “help young people with disabilities to maximize their potential and participation in society.” For 15 years, the Foundation has awarded grants to projects and organizations throughout the U.S., with emphasis on areas where Mitsubishi Electric America (MEA) facilities are located.
  MEAF also supports charitable giving by MEA employees, and encourages them to contribute their time and talents to volunteer work in their local communities. Through matching grants and gifts, employees can contribute to organizations within the Foundation’s mission. This “grassroots approach” is one of MEAF’s hallmarks, and underlines its focus on individual-to-individual sharing.
  On March 28, 2006, the Foundation paused to look back on its first 15 years. In that time, it has awarded more than US$5 million to 74 organizations, with MEA employees having put in thousands of volunteer hours each year. The supported projects range from sports events to vocational skills training initiatives, all of which serve to help disabled youths gain skills and confidence. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005, MEAF also contributed to the disaster relief efforts.
  Read more about MEAF’s accomplishments on: http://www.meaf.org/about/fifteenyears.html
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The children captured nature’s beauty in vibrant and colorful images

“Deserts and Desertification” was the theme of the 15th International Children’s Painting Competition on the Environment, held in 2006 and co-sponsored by Nikon, Bayer, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Japan-based Foundation for Global Peace and Environment (FGPE). First held in 1991, the annual competition invites entries from children all around the world under the theme “Let’s protect our beautiful ocean, sky and forest for the future!”
  Nikon hopes that its sponsorship will stimulate children’s interest in environmental issues. This year’s theme highlighted the fact that an estimated 25% of the entire land on earth has already turned into deserts and dry land, a number that continues to grow.
  Winners were awarded plaques and cash prizes (first-prize winner of global competition: US$2,000; top winners of each region: US$1,000). Their paintings will be used on posters, post cards, calendars and picture books to be produced by FGPE and UNEP promoting environmental protection. All entries submitted to the competition will be permanently housed at the National Museum of Ethnology in Suita City, Osaka, Japan.
  To see photos, go to: http://www.nikon.co.jp/main/eng/portfolio/environment/2005/1006_fgpe
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