Employees of PPG Industries’ industrial coatings manufacturing facility in Mount Vernon, Illinois present four PPG Industries Foundation checks totaling $4,000 to benefit students at Geff Grade School. From left to right are Teachers Sally Dye and Cheri Norton; PPG Lab Technician Tammy Maynor; PPG Environment, Health and Safety Specialist Taylor Pasley; PPG Technical Group Leader Walter Rexing; and Teachers Charlotte Shelby and Roberta Biggs.

Superintendent and Principal Sharon White (not pictured) applied for four separate grants through the PPG Industries Foundation’s Innovative Classroom Grants program. The art program grant, sponsored by PPG Customer Service Representative Amanda Carter and directed by Ms. Dye, funds tools and media for 105 students to participate in art contests at school and the opportunity for them to display their projects at the Wayne County Fair this summer. For the Summer Reading Program, directed by Mrs. Shelby, a grant sponsored by Tammy Maynor will provide three books and incentives for students to develop their love of reading over summer vacation.

The Hands-On Math program uses supplies targeted for each grade level to help students apply math knowledge and textbook lessons to skills used in their daily lives, and it is directed by Mrs. Norton and funded through a grant sponsored by Taylor Pasley. Walter Rexing of PPG sponsored a grant that will help Mrs. Biggs establish a character education program that enables educators to reward appropriate behavior and teach students the qualities of good character, helping them learn to exhibit good behavior both in and out of school.

“It is so humbling to play a part in providing our local educators with the tools they need to increase their students’ quality of learning,” Pasley said. “PPG is strongly committed to supporting the communities where it operates, and we as employees are happy to sponsor these grants to help support our local schools.”

The PPG Industries Foundation aims to create brighter, more colorful communities wherever PPG has a presence around the world. By investing in educational opportunities, we help grow today’s skilled workforce and develop tomorrow’s innovators in research and development, manufacturing, information technology and other careers related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics. With the support of our workforce, financial contributions and products furnished or funded by PPG, we help revitalize our communities. Plus, we empower PPG employees to make an impact for causes that are important to them by supporting their volunteer efforts and charitable giving.