PPG announced that the PPG Foundation recently invested more than $62,000 to support two educational programs in Michigan. The grants were made on behalf of PPG’s automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEM) coatings facility in Troy.

The PPG Foundation provided $60,000 for SAE International’s award-winning A WORLD IN MOTION® science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) program, which reaches nearly 2,000 students throughout Detroit, Michigan, and Toronto, Ontario. The program includes training teachers to increase their knowledge of, and comfort in, teaching science, technology and math, as well as providing schools with SAE’s classroom-based, hands-on STEM curriculum and materials.

A $2,500 grant to Kettering University will support the Young Innovators program, where students in fourth through sixth grades create original inventions to solve perplexing problems and meet perceived personal or community needs.

“Today’s youth are the future of the automotive industry, and PPG is proud to support programs that engage and encourage these young people to explore STEM-related fields that are important for advanced manufacturing,” said Diane Kappas, PPG vice president-elect, Automotive OEM Coatings, Americas.

PPG and the PPG Foundation aim to bring color and brightness to PPG communities around the world. We invested more than $10.5 million in 2017, supporting hundreds of community organizations across 29 countries. By investing in educational opportunities, we help grow today’s skilled workforce and develop tomorrow’s innovators in fields related to coatings and manufacturing. Plus, we empower PPG employees to multiply their impact for causes that are important to them by supporting their volunteer efforts and charitable giving. Learn more at www.ppgcommunities.com.