Scholarships, community outreach and educational programs at Kettering University received an important boost recently, thanks to a one-year, $2-million grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. The grant is Kettering’s largest donation this year and one of the largest in recent history.  The contribution brings the University close to its $5.4-million fund-raising goal for 2010-11.

Kettering President Stan Liberty said he is very grateful to the Foundation for the new grant.

“This tremendous investment in Kettering’s strategic initiatives will allow us to strengthen our need-based scholarships and continue to support outreach and important educational programs for youth,” Dr. Liberty said.  “The Mott Foundation’s support helps us in furthering enrollment and constituent efforts, which make us a stronger institutional neighbor in the City of Flint.”

“Kettering is known for preparing skilled and innovative leaders in business and industry, creating a pipeline of talent ready to compete in the global marketplace,” said Mott Foundation President and CEO William S. White.  “We are pleased to support that work, as well as the University’s role as an important educational and economic partner in the Flint community.”

The Foundation’s support for Kettering has totaled $27 million since 1983.

In addition to supporting scholarships, the recent Mott grant will help fund constituent development, branding initiatives and Kettering’s popular pre-college programs, including:

• AIM, or Academically Interested Minds, a five-week summer residential program designed to help students of color make a successful transition from high school to college,
• LITE, or Lives Improve Through Engineering, a two-week summer residential program to introduce 11th grade girls on ways to significantly improve lives by applying math, science and technology to human problems and
• FIRST Robotics, a national effort to showcase STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) to youth as a means of career exploration and technical preparation.

Flint Mayor Dayne Walling applauded the news of the new grant and said he appreciates whenever two of Flint’s most important corporate citizens work together.

“The educational opportunities created by this grant strengthens our community and is an important investment in our future.  I congratulate the Mott Foundation and Kettering University for working together on initiatives that strengthen Flint and tomorrow’s leaders,” Walling said.

Mott Foundation
The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, established in 1926 in Flint, Michigan, by an automotive pioneer, is a private philanthropy committed to supporting projects that promote a just, equitable and sustainable society. It supports nonprofit programs throughout the U.S. and, on a limited geographic basis, internationally. Grantmaking is focused in four programs: Civil Society, Environment, Flint Area and Pathways Out of Poverty. Besides Flint, offices are located in metropolitan Detroit, Johannesburg (South Africa) and London. The Foundation, with 2010 year-end assets of approximately $2.2 billion, made 492 grants totaling $92.9 million. For more on the Mott Foundation, visit: www.mott.org

Kettering University
Since 1919, Kettering University has been the home of the country’s most advanced professional co-op program.  Kettering is located in Flint, Mich., and is a national leader in the preparation of entrepreneurs and innovators.  For more on Kettering, visit: www.kettering.edu