UGN, Toyota Present $20,000 to Chicago's Grissom School

4 December 2000
UGN, Toyota Present $20,000 to Chicago's Grissom School
    CHICAGO, Dec. 4 Automotive acoustics and interior trim
supplier, UGN and Toyota today celebrated their longstanding relationship by
presenting the Virgil I. Grissom School with a $20,000 grant toward the
purchase of electronic equipment for students.  In cooperation with the
Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Toyota has matched UGN's $10,000
pledge as part of Toyota's Supplier Philanthropy Program, which seeks to
promote goodwill and earn support from communities where Toyota's suppliers
are located.  Toyota developed the program in 1999 as a way to show
appreciation to its suppliers and local communities for their hard work,
dedication and support.
    "We're proud to have teamed with Toyota on such a worthwhile project to
make a difference in the community," said Gary Jamison, UGN, Inc. president
and CEO.  "We are confident this financial investment today will help better
prepare our students for tomorrow's workplace."
    "Our philosophy has always been to contribute to the neighborhoods where
we have manufacturing plants and other facilities.  We want to carry that a
step further by supporting the communities of our suppliers," said Latondra
Newton, manager of external affairs at Toyota Motor Manufacturing North
America.  "Toyota is dedicated to the enhancement of technology education in
our schools and we are proud of the commitment that UGN has to this cause as
well.  We believe strong communities make strong business, and we are happy to
be able to extend our partnership to make a difference in this community."
    "Students will have increased access to computers, printers and scanners
-- all of which are vital to today's educational system," stated Kathlene Orr,
principal of Virgil I. Grissom School.
    Headquartered in Chicago, UGN combines global technology, expertise and
experience to produce high quality, cost-effective acoustic and interior trim
products for the transplant automobile industry in North America.
Incorporated in 1986, UGN is a 50/50 joint venture between Rieter Automotive
North America and UNI-NTF and can be found online at http://www.ugnusa.com .
    Toyota, America's fourth largest automaker, employs more than 31,000
people in North America and has manufacturing facilities in Kentucky, Indiana,
West Virginia, California, Missouri, and Canada.  The company's current North
American-built vehicles include the Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Sequoia, Sienna,
Solara, Tacoma, and Tundra.