Alcoa Announces $110,000 for Local Non-Profits

Release, Alcoa Mt. Holly:

Goose Creek, SC - Today Alcoa's Mt. Holly plant announced $110,000 in Alcoa Foundation grants to four local non-profit organizations: the South Carolina Aquarium, Junior Achievement of Coastal South Carolina, the South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Math and Trident Habitat for Humanity.

The South Carolina Aquarium will receive $40,000 over two years to support its high school internship program. The grant will give 40 economically disadvantaged high school juniors exposure to science education and workplace training through field-based learning opportunities, ultimately seeking to bring diversity to scientific professions in the region.

Two additional grants will support science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education programs with Junior Achievement (JA) and the South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Math (GSSM). JA receives a two-year, $30,000 grant to support a partnership with Charleston County School District that brings JA programs to 2,700 eighth-grade students at title one schools.

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JA classroom volunteers teach the curriculum, designed to raise student awareness of STEM career opportunities and the job preparation required to work in a STEM-related field. GSSM receives $20,000 to support 2013 iTEAMS (Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship Among Middle Schoolers) camps for rising eighth and ninth-graders in Berkeley County. This program brings two free, week-long summer camps to 200 students in Berkeley County. The camp is designed to encourage studies in computer science, engineering, programming and business using team-based technology challenges.

Trident Habitat for Humanity was selected for a $20,000 grant to support its sustainable building initiative. The grant will fund the research and design of five different energy efficient pilot homes for local Habitat affiliates. Habitat's standard home design over the next five years will be selected from the group of pilot homes and implemented by the five local Habitat affiliates in the Lowcountry.

"Through these grants, Alcoa Mt. Holly and Alcoa Foundation have the opportunity to positively impact education and environmental programs in the Lowcountry," said Mike Rousseau, Alcoa Mt. Holly Plant Manager. "With the support of our employee volunteers, we look forward to building and strengthening our relationships with these organizations, and participating in the good work they're doing in our communities."

In addition to the new grants in 2012, The Nature Conservancy receives $20,000 of a three-year, $65,000 Alcoa Foundation grant awarded in 2011 for oyster reef restoration. EarthForce also receives a $15,000 grant, the final allocation of a three-year, $50,000 award in 2010 that funded the expansion of its environmental education programs in James Island, North Charleston and Goose Creek.