WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation announces $1,400,000 in new grants to eight organizations as part of its national M>PWR possible Initiative.

The 10-year, M>PWR possible Initiative funds projects designed to empower youth with disabilities to lead productive lives through increased employment, particularly in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts/design, and mathematics (STEAM).

“By supporting innovative approaches to help youth with disabilities gain career exposure, employment skills, and hands-on experience in the workplace, we are seeing an increase in real, competitive employment opportunities and outcomes for people with disabilities entering the workforce,” says Kevin R. Webb, senior director, Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation. “Employers are beginning to see people with disabilities as an untapped talent pool, and people with disabilities are becoming truly empowered to pursue their career interests,” continued Webb, “which is the ultimate goal of the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation’s M>PWR possible Initiative.”

New Grants

• Blue Star Recyclers-National Replication Program, $250,000 over two years
• Dreams for Schools-AppJam+, $75,000
• Friends of Butler Tech Foundation-Project LIFE™, $225,000 over three years
• Gallaudet University’s Visual Language and Visual Learning Center (VL2)-Merging Deaf Talent with 21st Century Skill Sets: Storybook Apps, $225,000 over three years
• GiGi’s Playhouse-GiGi’s Professionals, $225,000 over three years
• Kids Included Together-Disability Inclusion in STEM Needs Assessment, $25,000
• Perkins School for the Blind-Career Launch@Perkins, $225,000 over three years
• Science Buddies-Enabling STEM Careers for Disabled Students, $150,000 over two years

In addition to these new grants, continuing, multiyear projects will receive $396,000 in 2019 funds.

Continuing Projects

• American Association of People with Disabilities-Summer Internship Program, $85,000 (third year of a $255,000/three-year grant)
• DREAM Partnership-Growing Together: An Aquaponics Employment Transition Program, $75,000 (second year of a $150,000/two-year grant)
• Exceptional Minds-Job Readiness and Placement, $25,000 (third year of a $75,000/three-year grant)
• Partners for Youth with Disabilities-Campus Career Connect, $75,000 (third year of a $225,000/three-year grant)
• The Arc of the United States-Specialisterne: Creating IT Jobs for youth with ASD, $61,000 (second year of a $122,000/two-year grant)
• University of Pittsburgh’s Human Engineering Research Laboratories-Advancing Inclusive Manufacturing, $75,000 (second year of a $150,000/two-year grant)

M>PWR possible Initiative projects continuing beyond the foundation’s initial funding, include:

• California Academy of Sciences-Museums4Inclusion
• Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center-Project SEARCH in All 50 States
• Disability:IN-Next Gen Leaders: Mentorship Exchange & Talent Accelerator
• University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability-Intelligent Lives Opening Doors to Inclusive Education and Employment Campaign

The Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, based in the Washington, DC area, was established in 1991 by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and the Mitsubishi Electric U.S. companies, which produce, sell and distribute a wide range of consumer, industrial, commercial and professional electronics products. The Foundation has contributed more than $17 million to organizations that are empowering young people with disabilities to lead more inclusive and productive lives.

To learn more, visit www.MEAF.org.

empowering youth with disabilities to lead productive lives