General Motors Foundation Helps Provide Funding Support to the Creative Youth of America

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Oct 29, 2010, 02:49 ET

DETROIT, Oct. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- The General Motors Foundation today provided a $10,000 grant to the scholarship fund of the Organization of Black Designers (OBD) to support the non-profit organization in its mission to offer financial aid to creative young people at major design schools across the country.

The OBD launched an initiative in 2009 to establish a scholarship funding program. However, as is the case with many non-profit organizations in the present environment, the OBD is contending with today's recovering economy. The GM Foundation's grant will help the OBD reach its goal of establishing a scholarship at every major design school in the country. The scholarships cover the disciplines of transportation, interior, graphic and product design.

"Through the OBD, we're proud to help make an investment in America's creative young people, especially those who are interested in pursuing a career in design," said Ed Welburn, GM Vice President, Global Design. "The GM Design team is made up of designers from a variety of disciplines, not just vehicle design specialists. Designers from architecture, digital, fashion, ceramics, graphic and interior design fill the studios of our ten Design Centers worldwide. Efforts like the OBD's are important to create awareness among young people of the design opportunities in the automotive industry, and to help us fill these critical needs both today and in the future."

"The Organization of Black Designers is profoundly grateful that GM is supporting our national scholarship initiative," said David H. Rice, founder and chairman, Organization of Black Designers. "We look forward to partnering with GM to provide the essential financial and mentoring support that the talented youth of America fully deserve."

About General Motors Foundation

Since its inception in 1976, GM Foundation has donated hundreds of millions to deserving American charities and to disaster relief efforts worldwide. The GM Foundation focuses on Education, Health and Human Services, Environment and Energy and Community Development initiatives, mainly in the communities where GM operates. For more information, visit www.gm.com/corporate/responsibility/community.

About Organization of Black Designers

Established in 1980, Jobs for America's Graduates is devoted to assisting extremely high-risk youth gain the resources and confidence they need in order to graduate from high school, find employment, and succeed in seeking post-secondary education.

About GM Design

The first and largest global automotive OEM design function, General Motors has a network of 10 Design Centers in eight countries around the world. Over 1,500 men and women are responsible for the design development of every GM concept and production car and truck globally. The Design Centers are located in the United States, Germany, England, Korea, China, Australia, Brazil and India. GM Design employees represent more than 99 percent of all countries across the globe.

SOURCE General Motors