Johnson Controls Makes $120,000 Donation To Support the Automotive Hall of Fame
24 May 2000
Johnson Controls Makes $120,000 Donation To Support the Automotive Hall of Fame
Interior supplier is committed to recognizing
Accomplishments of individuals in the auto industry
PLYMOUTH, Mich., May 24 As part of its commitment to
preserving automotive history, automotive supplier Johnson Controls
will donate $120,000 to the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn,
Michigan. The announcement was made today by Rande Somma, president, North
America for the Johnson Controls Automotive Systems Group.
"The milestones and accomplishments of individuals in the automotive
industry should not be forgotten," said Somma. "Johnson Controls' $120,000
grant to the Automotive Hall of Fame will help ensure that the auto industry's
rich history continues to encourage and inspire future generations."
"We are grateful for Johnson Controls' generous donation," said Gene
McKinney, president of the Automotive Hall of Fame. "The company's
contribution is a prime example of its commitment to remembering the history
the auto industry has developed throughout the decades."
In addition to the donation, Johnson Controls also will showcase its 1911
Johnson One Ton Stake Truck at the Automotive Hall of Fame later this year.
The heavy-duty, all-purpose carrier vehicle -- manufactured by Johnson
Controls early in the 20th century -- was acquired by the company in 1982. It
is believed to be one of only five or six existing Johnson vehicles in the
world today. The Johnson Service Company produced cars and trucks in Milwaukee
from 1901 to 1912.
The $120,000 donation from Johnson Controls will be used by the Automotive
Hall of Fame to update exhibits, enhance educational opportunities for school
groups, and present special events related to safety, design and other areas
of importance relating to the motor vehicle industry.
In 1999, Johnson Controls and its employees donated their time, talents
and financial support to more than 45 community groups, educational/art
institutions and business organizations. In Michigan, contributions totaling
approximately $2 million were made to a variety of local groups, including the
United Way, Focus: HOPE, Cornerstone Schools, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra,
the Karmanos Cancer Institute and the Boy Scouts.
Johnson Controls, with global automotive headquarters in Plymouth,
Michigan, operates 25 facilities with 9,350 employees and 3.8 million square
feet of manufacturing floor space in the state.
The Automotive Hall of Fame -- which moved to its Dearborn, Michigan
location in 1997 -- is designed and built to be a visitor attraction and
educational resource. It celebrates accomplished people of the worldwide motor
vehicle industry for the purpose of inspiring others, especially young people,
to higher levels of achievement in their own work and lives. It is a unique
"people place" of innovation and inspiration where interactive experiences and
one-on-one demonstrations are entertaining and enlightening.
The Plymouth, Michigan-based automotive business of Johnson Controls --
which employs more than 65,000 people at 275 facilities worldwide -- achieved
US$12.1 billion in sales for the 1999 fiscal year. In model-year 2000, it will
supply interior products for more than 23 million vehicles.
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 seating and interior systems, and batteries. For non-residential
facilities, Johnson Controls provides building control systems and services,
energy management and integrated facility management. Johnson Controls,
founded in 1885, has headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its sales for 1998
totaled US$12.6 billion.