ATLANTA, June 5, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The UPS Foundation , on behalf of UPS (NYSE: UPS), announced today it will donate more than $7.9 million to 42 non-profit organizations supporting economic empowerment, education, inclusion, and mentorship initiatives. The donations include a $1 million commitment of support over two years to the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) to provide leadership development opportunities to girls/young women around the world with a special emphasis on Latin America, Africa and the Arab world.
Since 2004, UPS has supported WAGGGS in its mission to build global programs around leadership, advocacy, volunteerism, environmental sustainability and economic development.
"Education and leadership development are central to economic empowerment," said Eduardo Martinez, president of The UPS Foundation. "We are helping WAGGGS reach its network of more than 10 million girls and young women in 145 countries across five regions of the world. Our partnership with WAGGGS has enriched the lives of thousands of girls and young women ensuring they are provided the resources to become leaders and advocates in their communities and beyond, spurring economic development globally."
In addition to WAGGGS, The UPS Foundation will also support the following 41 organizations that focus on economic empowerment, education, inclusion, and mentorship.
Economic Empowerment
- Funding to operate five program sites focused on entrepreneurism for minorities will benefit the National Urban League .
- Increasing economic stability by offering access to financial services and loans, and financial education for youth to ACCION International , Opportunity International and Aspira of America .
- Providing support for and implementation of economic empowerment programs for Hispanic American families through grants awarded to the Council for Economic Education and the Cuban American National Council .
- Creating a trade center to support commerce between indigenous populations, government entities and corporations for the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development .
- Spurring career development opportunities for the National Center for Disability Services and the National Organization on Disability .
Education
- Improving literacy efforts, school engagement, college readiness and youth development will benefit Africare , CHOICES Education Group , National Black Child Development Institute , the National Hispana Leadership Institute , the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People , the National Federation of the Blind and the Nick Lowery Youth Foundation .
- Providing funding for scholarships and fellowships to colleges, universities and higher education institutes will be awarded to African Leadership Foundation , American Indian College Fund , Brigham Young University , Clark Atlanta University , Council of Independent Colleges , Hispanic Scholarship Fund , Morehouse College , Spelman College , the United Negro College Fund , Japanese American Citizens League and the Organization of Chinese Americans .
- Granting greater access to comprehensive services, including educational tools, for the United Nations Foundation/Girl Up and the United Nations Association-USA of the Better World Fund .
- Supporting the National Council of La Raza's Escalera program, a college and career readiness program benefitting high school juniors and seniors.
Inclusion
- Providing career development and post-secondary readiness to Girls Incorporated .
- Strengthening programs geared toward social justice for Catalyst , the Human Rights Campaign Foundation , the Leadership Conference Education Fund and the Parents Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays .
- Increasing volunteer opportunities for disabled individuals will be awarded to the Special Olympics of Georgia .
- Giving support to the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing toward critical content development for the Listening and Spoken Language Knowledge Center for 175,000 deaf and hard of hearing children as well as their families and health professionals.
Mentorship
- Expanding mentorship programs for the 100 Black Men of America and the Strive for College Collaborative .
- Funding to National Urban Fellows to support a fellow that will lead the St. Bernard Project, an effort to rebuild homes for survivors of natural disasters.
For more information about UPS's corporate giving, please visit UPS.com/Foundation .
About The UPS Foundation
UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including the transportation of packages and freight; the facilitation of international trade, and the deployment of advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Since its founding in 1907, UPS has built a legacy as a caring and responsible corporate citizen, supporting programs that provide long-term solutions to community needs. Founded in 1951, The UPS Foundation is responsible for facilitating community involvement to local, national, and global communities. In 2013, UPS and its employees, active and retired, invested more than $102 million in charitable giving around the world. The UPS Foundation can be found on the web at UPS.com/Foundation . To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS .
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Kristen Petrella 404-828-4182
