During the past 57 years, The Chrysler Foundation has established a proud legacy of enriching the physical, educational and cultural needs of local communities in which Chrysler Group LLC conducts business. Chrysler employees also have a strong commitment to helping improve their communities by volunteering their time and talents in the places where we live and work.
The Chrysler Foundation embodies the values of the company and its employees and, since its inception, has awarded more than $500 million in charitable grants.
Proud History of Giving
Being a Good Neighbor, Good Citizen is an integral part of Chrysler's culture. By partnering with generous employees who volunteer their time and efforts to help others, the Foundation has been able to extend its reach and impact even further over the years.
The Foundation supports a wide diversity of initiatives...from disaster relief programs to youth development efforts...and from major cultural programs to neighborhood groups engaged in improving social conditions so that its residents can prosper.
It is not possible to list all of the organizations and initiatives The Chrysler Foundation and Chrysler employees have impacted through the years, so we'll only highlight a few...
September 11, 2001 was a day when the United States came together as a whole and so did the Chrysler family. Within days of Sept. 11, a $10 million Help the Children Fund was established for the children of the victims of the terrorist attacks. Employees, retires and dealers raised another $400,000 for the scholarship fund.
Additionally, the company donated a number of vehicles to the New York police and fire departments and many employees worked at the recovery site at Ground Zero or collected donations of gloves and other supplies for rescue workers.
Investing in education and the workforce of tomorrow has always been a priority for The Chrysler Foundation. Several hundred grants have been awarded over the years to schools and programs that help children develop the skills necessary for future success in the workplace.
Chrysler was an early corporate sponsor of Reading Is Fundamental and many other national and local reading programs. Additionally, the Foundation has formed partnerships with colleges and universities, providing grants to programs that develop the engineers, business professionals, technicians, financiers and designers of tomorrow. The Foundation has also provided grants to K-12 initiatives including A World in Motion, a program in conjunction with the Society of Automotive Engineers that develops a hands-on curriculum to teach basic physical science and mathematics concepts in elementary school.
Involved employees have demonstrated in concrete ways what it means to be a Good Neighbor, Good Citizen. They have built playgrounds in cities across the country, supported the U.S. Marines' Toys for Tots campaigns, beautified neighborhoods, joined the fight to save lives by registering for the National Marrow Donor Program, collected and delivered food for community food banks, and mentored at-risk children.
Chrysler employees were the backbone of the Foundation's storm relief efforts following the devastating 2005 hurricane season. Company volunteers from across the country organized a relief convoy that traveled more than 1,200 miles from Michigan through St. Louis and into the Gulf coast region, delivering vehicles, supplies, food, water and cash donations.
Donations from employees, the company's business units, dealers and retirees totaled approximately $6.55 million to aid the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. The Chrysler Foundation also donated $550,000 with $150,000 specifically used as matching funds to inspire others to give.
Supporting the arts is an important part of the Foundation's commitment to enriching the lives of people in cities across America. Whether it's underwriting major exhibitions at different local museums or a science center theater, or sponsoring a jazz festival or renowned city orchestra, foundation grants and scholarships have impacted the vitality of the communities in which we live.
Honoring those who serve our country has always been important to The Chrysler Foundation. Whether it's the police, firefighters or our country's service men and women, the Foundation has made contributions to organizations supporting the nation's first responders and military families.
Involvement is part of Chrysler's long tradition of being a Good Neighbor, Good Citizen - one that is actively engaged in projects that make a positive, lasting impact in our communities.
The Chrysler Foundation is currently fulfilling previous funding obligations and will continue to award selective grants made through requests for proposals by invitation only. Please note we do not accept unsolicited grant requests or letters of application.