Mitsubishi donates $52,500 for college scholarships

Mitsubishi Motors USA Foundation co-chairs Ryan Gremore and Don Swearingen (center) present a check of $52,500 for scholarships to Heartland Community College. (Joe Ragusa/WJBC)
Mitsubishi Motors USA Foundation co-chairs Ryan Gremore and Don Swearingen (center) present a check of $52,500 for scholarships to Heartland Community College. (Joe Ragusa/WJBC)

By Joe Ragusa

NORMAL – Mitsubishi Motors of North America is going to focus its charitable efforts more on central Illinois.

The car maker, through its charity foundation, gave out $52,500 for 15 scholarships a year to Heartland Community College Thursday.

“This will help us guide our resources to make sure we are helping out in the community and making sure we are delivering the money to those with the most needs,” Mitsubishi Motors USA Foundation co-chairman Don Swearingen said.

Swearingen said Thursday’s donation is the first of several donations to the community. He didn’t address the departure of the Mitsubishi Plant in Normal when asked if the closure was a reason for the increased charitable efforts.

He did say Ryan Gremore of O’Brien Mitsubishi has always had a focus on giving back to the community and Mitsubishi wants to help.

Joe Ragusa can be reached at [email protected].

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