User:Julieatrci/The Hitachi Foundation

The Hitachi Foundation is an independent, nonprofit philanthropic organization founded in 1985 with an endowment from Hitachi, Ltd. Its stated purpose is to “improve the quality of life for economically isolated people in the United States and to help Hitachi learn how to better fulfill its responsibilities as a corporate citizen doing business in North America.” The Hitachi Foundation capitalizes “The” in its name as its official title.

The foundation concentrates its efforts and funds into three umbrella programs, with numerous projects operating under each one: the Business and Communities Grants Program, the Hitachi Community Action Partnership, and the Yoshiyama Award for Exemplary Service to the Community.

Business and Communities Grants Program
The goal of the Business and Communities Grants Program is to enhance the opportunity and quality of life for economically isolated people through business and community partnerships and corporate citizenship efforts. In this program, the Foundation seeks to invest in new solutions for businesses and nonprofit organizations in order to address social challenges, such as how to build career paths for low-income individuals. This, in their view, strengthens businesses and alleviates conditions that perpetuate poverty.

One example of its Business and Communities Grants Program is the M-Powered Project. This project was organized by the Manufacturing Institute of the National Association of Manufacturers and the Precision Metalforming Association, and supported by The Hitachi Foundation and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. The initiative showcased a model for dealing with worker shortages in the manufacturing sector. At the same time, the M-Powered Project provided new opportunities for underemployed workers through local colleges, community-based organizations, and employers.

The Hitachi Foundation also joined with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) to launch Jobs to Careers: Promoting Work Based Learning for Quality Care. The $14 million initiative supports partnerships between employers and educational institutions to promote the workforce development for frontline healthcare workers.

Another major portion of The Hitachi Foundation’s Business and Communities Grants Program is its focus on Corporate Citizenship (also see: Corporate social responsibility).

The Hitachi Community Action Partnership
In 1987, The Hitachi Foundation and Hitachi companies established the Hitachi Community Action Partnership (HCAP) community engagement program. Through this program, teams of Hitachi corporate employees, known as Community Action Committees, identify priority issues facing their communities and make grants and organize volunteer efforts. The Foundation awards grants to match their efforts. Griswold, J. (2006, August 5). Hitachi workers combat hunger. The Oklahoman, p. 8D.

The Yoshiyama Award for Exemplary Service to the Community
The Yoshiyama Award was initiated in 1988 when Mr. Hirokichi Yoshiyama, former president and Chairman of Hitachi, Ltd. in Tokyo, Japan, donated funds upon his retirement to the program. Each year up to 10 high school seniors are hand-picked from hundreds of nominees to receive this award based on the significance and breadth of their service to the community. A diverse panel of leaders from various professions selects the award recipients. Students selected for the Yoshiyama Award are expected to have made sustainable change in their community. The Foundation is especially interested in students whose community-service efforts help underserved individuals move closer to the economic mainstream. Award recipients receive a $5,000 gift, which the student may use however he or she chooses. The Yoshiyama Award is not a scholarship program.

Other affiliations and events
The Hitachi Foundation is a member of the Hands On Network Corporate Service Council Advisory Board; a network of 52 nationally and internationally known corporations and nonprofit organizations – including UPS and 3m – that bring people together to try and solve community problems through service.

In September of 2005, The Hitachi Foundation and Hitachi America, Ltd. joined together to give a $1,000,000 donation to the American Red Cross for Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts.

The Hitachi Foundation sponsors the Elliot L. Richardson Prize for Excellence in Public Service, a program of the Council for Excellence in Government

The Hitachi Foundation sponsors the State of Corporate Citizenship Survey, administered by the Center for Corporate Citizenship at Boston College.