Johnson Controls Presents $100,000 to Huston-Tillotson University
Donation to Support White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
MILWAUKEE, Sept. 30 -- Johnson Controls, Inc., the global leader in facility management and design, presented $100,000 to Huston- Tillotson University, located in Austin, Texas. The donation supports the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), an executive order issued to strengthen the excellence in education in the areas of science, mathematics, and technology at historically black educational institutions. Houston-Tillotson University has been selected to lead the initiatives.
The presentation was made as part of the 25th Anniversary of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) conference, in Washington, D.C. A proclamation from President George W. Bush designates September 13 - 16, 2005 as National HBCU Week. About 400 college presidents, chancellors, deans and other administrators attend the function annually to review policies, procedures, best practices and challenges and opportunities collectively faced by the schools. This is the third consecutive year that Johnson Controls has sponsored the event.
Dr. Larry Earvin, president of Huston-Tillotson, accepted the check on behalf of the university. The funds will be distributed in $20,000 annual installments over a five-year period.
"We will join with Johnson Controls and other companies to ensure all HBCUs benefit from a feeder pool of high-tech talent," said Earvin. "It is commitments like these that supports our mission to provide quality education to our students and look futuristically to providing society with diverse qualified graduates."
Johnson Controls board of directors member Willie Davis, addressed college presidents and business leaders during the dinner. Davis graduated from Grambling State University, an HBCU school. He provided a personal testimonial about how his Alma Mater, like all of the HBCU sector of schools, offer students not only an education, but a nurturing environment conducive to learning.
"When I went to school I was the first to attend college and it was my first time away from home so I needed parenting and comfort," said Davis. "Grambling wrapped their arms around me and provided the assurance I needed to succeed in school and in business."
Davis is the president of All-Pro Broadcasting Group, which owns radio stations in Milwaukee, Wisc., Sacramento and San Bernadino, Calif. He also is a Hall of Fame former professional football player, having retired from the Green Bay Packers football team.
Johnson Controls, Inc. is a global market leader in automotive systems and facility management and control. In the automotive market, it is a major supplier of integrated seating and interior systems, and batteries. For non- residential facilities, Johnson Controls provides control systems and services including comfort, energy and security management. Johnson Controls , founded in 1885, has headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its sales for 2004 totaled $25.4 billion. For more information on Johnson Controls, Inc., visit the company's Web site at http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/ .
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