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MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC AMERICA FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES $2 MILLION IN NEW AND CONTINUING GRANTS
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WASHINGTON, DC, April 30, 2025 — Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation (MEAF) announced today $1,066,000 in new grants, and $978,784 in continuing projects. The funding supports MEAF’s Access to Careers in Technology and the Trades Initiative, which is designed to empower youth with disabilities to lead productive lives through increased employment.
"With the increase in demand for a skilled workforce, MEAF’s Access to Careers in Technology and the Trades Initiative continues to focus on preparing the next generation of youth with disabilities for jobs in the trades, technology, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare by working in collaboration with educators and industry associations," says Kevin R. Webb, MEAF’s executive director.
SME Education Foundation received $202.5K to support the MEAF Scholarship Program for Neurodiverse Students.
New and Renewed Projects
New projects focus on access, innovation and opportunity for young people with disabilities, with MEAF providing grants to support:
- The launch of the new SME Education Foundation MEAF Scholarship Program for Neurodiverse Students pursuing two and four-year degrees in manufacturing and engineering.
- Expansion of the Aspiritech Academy to provide employment preparation for cybersecurity careers in addition to IT and QA training programs for neurodivergent individuals.
- An Igniting Ideas Accelerator at Atlanta-based Synergies Work providing an intensive 12-week business accelerator program for disabled entrepreneurs.
- Development of the CAST CTE Tech and Accessibility Hub for educators featuring Universal Design for Learning in partnership with the Association for Career and Technical Education, as well as CAST’s continued work on developing Biomanufacturing Career Guidance.
- Expansion of SparkForce, the FMA Foundation, Inclusion Manufacturing Camps to introduce students with disabilities to careers in advanced manufacturing.
- A Careers in Manufacturing Education Program for young people with disabilities with the Advanced Manufacturing Industry Partnership in Cincinnati, Ohio.
- A Summer Lineman and Machine Operator training program for students with disabilities with the Cecil County School District and Utilitrain.
- Accessibility Roundtable discussions with the Consumer Technology Association Foundation,
- The Transition at Perkins School for the Blind featuring PathFinder pre-employment training and Life Launch residential program for independent living.
- Engagement of youth with disabilities in the American Association of People with Disabilities 30th Anniversary events throughout the year.
Continuing Projects
In addition to the new grant projects, MEAF continues to support projects focused on career preparation, mentoring and awareness building:
- FIRST® Access to introduce inclusive programming for all students into FIRST competitions.
- Exceptional Minds to prepare artists on the autism spectrum for career pathways towards jobs across digital arts, animation, visual effects, gaming, and other fields.
- NSITE IT Program Expansion to help blind and visually impaired individuals access IT training.
- The Uniquely Abled Project Uniquely Abled Academy program at trade schools and community colleges to train autistic students in Computer Numerical Control (CNC) and Robotics.
- Kinney Center for Autism Education and Support at St. Joseph’s University Colleges Learn about Autistic Student Services Program.
- Butler Tech’s Project LIFE™ pre-employment training program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
- Celebrate EDU’s Microenterprise Training to teach entrepreneurial skills to students with IDD.
- Cincinnati Children’s Project SEARCH Alumni Program to boost career readiness skills for the 36,000+ graduates of the Project SEARCH High School Internship Program.
- Children’s Hospital Los Angeles - University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Peer Navigator and Peer Empowerment Network for individuals with IDD.
- Disability EmpowHer Network innovative EmpowHer Camp mentoring program.
- "The Ride Ahead" documentary feature film by Dan and Samuel Habib.
- Accessibility Resources at PEAK Convenings with PEAK Grantmaking.
MEAF’s $2 million in grant commitments to 24 organizations will be distributed over the next two years. MEAF will also match up to $320,000 in donations made by employees in 2025 to help build inclusive and sustainable communities in the United States.
The Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, based in the Washington, D.C. area, was established in 1990 by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and the Mitsubishi Electric U.S. group companies, which produce, sell, and distribute a wide range of consumer, industrial, commercial, and professional electronics products. The Foundation has contributed more than $27.5 million to organizations that are empowering young people with disabilities to lead more inclusive and productive lives. To learn more, visit www.MEAF.org.
Contact:
Kevin R. Webb,
Executive Director,
703/276-8245,
Kevin.Webb@meus.com
