Time to Show Your Community Spirit (and Get Your Hands Dirty)

Aisin team members here and around the world are known for doing the right thing when it comes to helping in the community. Together, we value being good neighbors, supporting organizations that help children and families, and reaching out, when possible, to protect our environment.

With that in mind, Aisin’s Community Relations Team is pleased to announce that it has joined with the Plymouth Public Service Office to support an environmental improvement effort within the public area of the Rouge River.

The Rouge River flows through three counties in Southeastern Michigan: Wayne, Oakland and Washtenaw, and is visible in several locations close to Aisin, most notably in Edward Hines Park.

Portions of the Rouge River also flow through a local soccer park, which is where "Team Aisin" will do its duty for a few hours on Saturday, June 4, 2011, to remove persistent weeds and plants, and replace with new, environmentally-friendly greenery. The park’s water detention pond has become overgrown with invasive plant species, and Aisin’s goal is to replant the area with species native to this area.

AWA and ATC-A team members, including families, kids, friends, relatives, and neighbors are invited to take part on June 4, at 9:00 am, at Lake Pointe Soccer Park in Plymouth. What a great way to improve one of our local areas, provide community support, and get dirty with your friends.

Rouge River Clean Up Details: Saturday, June 4, 9:00 am -- 12 Noon Lake Pointe Soccer Park (Haggerty Rd., south of Schoolcraft Rd.) All AWA and ATC-A team members and families are invited (great experience for kids) Shovels, gloves and other tools will be provided T-shirts and hats will be provided (while supplies last) Coffee and donuts will be provided More information: contact Dennis Robbins or Karen Bundoff

Editor's Note: It will be interesting to see who provides more workers: AWA or ATC-A.

Aisin Team Members Help Kids, While Showing Creative Skills

     

American clothing manufacturer OshKosh B’Gosh, maker of the famed OshKosh bib overalls, recently launched a nationwide effort to help provide clothes for children affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Noting that children were especially hard hit by the disaster, OshKosh pledged to donate an article of children’s clothing for every paper origami crane that was made and brought to an OshKosh store.

The crane is auspicious in Japanese culture. Legend says that anyone who folds one thousand paper cranes will have "their heart's desire come true." The origami crane (orizuru in Japanese) has become a symbol of peace because of this legend, and because of a young Japanese girl named Sadako Sasaki.

 

Since the opportunity to participate was discovered just a week prior to the end of the OshKosh program, Aisin team members, lead by Theresa Couch, had to act quickly. Information was distributed to the entire Detroit office with a plan to hold a lunch, sponsored by the External Affairs Department, where members could learn how to make origami cranes. Many members began making cranes that same evening, and volunteered to teach other members how to make cranes.

On April 21, with more than 60 members participating, 725 cranes were created during lunchtime. And since the Aisin cranes didn't need to be submitted until the following Monday, many members took home origami paper and made more cranes over the weekend.

Finally, on Monday, April 25, the Aisin cranes were counted: all 1,387 of them. This meant that, thanks to the generosity of OshKosh, and the quick work and dedication of Aisin team members, 1,387 pieces of clothing will be provided to children in need (in addition to the efforts of other participating companies and individuals).

OshKosh plans to send the origami cranes to hang in stores in Japan to demonstrate that many good hopes and wishes come from families from all over the world.

Theresa Couch says the origami project was a great team-building event.

"We are so happy that we could participate in a program that brings a little happiness to children and families affected by the disaster in Japan. This was a wonderful experience for all of us. We came together like a family and did something really special."

Aisin-sponsored Robotics Team Qualified for State Finals


The Livonia Warriors robot, Armed and Dangerous (center), finished runner up at the FIRST Robotics Detroit District
competition at Wayne State University. The Warriors qualified for state finals competition at Eastern Michigan University.

Youth and education is extremely important to Aisin Group companies around the world, and to the company's future as a global Tier One supplier. Throughout the year, Aisin encourages student participation and achievement in science, technology, engineering and math through various community events and activities.

In recent months AWA and ATC-A have joined together to sponsor the Livonia Warriors, a robotics team made up of students from all three Livonia public high schools, which participated in the statewide FIRST competition.

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) focuses on science and engineering by providing hands-on, project-based, collaborative learning experiences for students. For Aisin, it's seemingly a perfect partnership.

In March, AWA and ATC-A received accolades from the Livonia Board of Education for supporting the Warriors robotics team. ATC-A's Joe Gabiniewicz, AWA's John Koenig and Mike Lapinski, and team members of the Livonia Warriors (represented by their captains and mentor below) were in attendance as Board President Lynda Scheel praised the great work of the Warriors and the generous support of Aisin.

 
Warriors team members wore blue ribbons in honor of their relationship with Aisin, and in recognition of the earthquake in Japan.

Livonia Warriors Coach Isolina Carlini presents a check for $200 to K. Takeuchi,
Karen Bundoff and David Testa, on behalf of the Japan Red Cross. The money was
raised by students participating in various fundraisers in honor of the relationship
between Aisin and the Livonia Warriors.

Community Organizations Benefit from Aisin Support

Aisin World Corp. of America has long supported the efforts of organizations like the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council and the National Minority Supplier Development Council. Recently, AWA team members attended the 27th annual MMSDC awards program to "Celebrate the Stars of Diversity."

One of the guiding principles of Aisin Group companies -- being a good neighbor, and good corporate citizen -- is evident by the leadership role it plays in communities around the world.

Recently, AWA has supported the events and activities of a number of our community partners, such as the Torrance-South Bay YMCA; Detroit Hispanic Development Corp.; Livonia Public Schools and FIRST Robotics; Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council; SAE Foundation for Science and Technology; and the Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce.

With support also comes opportunity for company visibility in the community and with our customers, many of which are also involved in the same activities.

Aisin is pleased to share examples of ads used in recent community efforts.

Program ad for Torrance YMCA's "Drive a Kid to Camp" campaign.

Program ad for the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council,
and Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce.

Banquet ad for SAE Foundation for Science and Technology.
(Aisin is a mentor sponsor)

Ad produced for Partner Breakfast at the Detroit Hispanic Development Corp.