UTC Launches China Library Project
Shanghai, China, December 5, 2013
United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) and The Library Project today announced they are expanding their partnership in China and inaugurating the UTC China Library Project to continue donating libraries to under-financed elementary schools in the rural areas throughout China.
Funded by UTC China, the UTC China Library Project will donate 100 student libraries and 30 teacher libraries to elementary schools in China’s rural areas in 2014. A student library will be equipped with 500-1,500 children’s books that cover a broad range of subjects from fairy tales to history, from safety knowledge to science education, and from school reference books to a full set of children’s encyclopedias. A teacher library will include books such as children’s psychology, children’s education and many others.
“We’re glad to expand our partnership with The Library Project,” said Liping Xie, President, UTC Aerospace & Government Relations – China. “UTC is committed to supporting the development of communities where we have businesses. We believe that education can inspire positive changes and help make the world better.”
UTC’s first project with The Library Project dates back to 2009, when a group of Pratt & Whitney employees in Shanghai raised funds and donated two student libraries to elementary schools in Taihe County, Anhui Province. Since 2011, UTC’s aerospace units — Pratt & Whitney, UTC Aerospace Systems and Sikorsky – have established a long-term partnership with The Library Project. In the past two years, UTC Aerospace China donated 200 libraries with more than 107,000 children’s books that benefit over 44,000 students in the rural areas in 9 provinces.
“UTC and The Library Project have formed a great partnership,” said Tom Stader, Founder and Executive Director of The Library Project. “The joint efforts are yielding incredible impact to the communities where we made donations. We look forward to growing this program to benefit more children and more schools.”
In 2014, UTC will continue work together with The Library Project and employee volunteers from UTC Building & Industrial Systems and UTC Aerospace China will travel to rural areas to fulfill the donations as planned.
“The Green Shoots program was launched across Asia two years ago as a way to contribute to the environmental education of students and improve school facilities in rural areas. Through the Green Shoots program our employee volunteers have reached out to 19 schools across China, impacting over 4,400 students,” said Ross Shuster, UTC Building & Industrial Systems North Asia president. “We are very proud of our employees’ passion to do more for the next generation. The Library Project together with the Green Shoots Program will benefit more primary students in impoverished rural areas as more volunteers participate.”
UTC has been recognized for its commitment to helping China achieve sustainable development in fields like building sustainable cities, supporting the country’s youth and alleviating poverty. UTC helped build the Eco-City Indicator System and regularly sponsors green building and city planning conferences. UTC also helped on rural development through the Early Childhood Development Program in Poor Areas and Greening the Future program, which helped hundreds of rural families to increase their income by growing tea trees. The company also promoted the future generation entrepreneurship by starting a China-US youth exchange program. UTC has more than 19,000 employees in China, working at 465 locations, including 24 manufacturing facilities.
“We have been devoted to children’s safety education in China and one of Otis’ brands, Xizi Otis, has been building libraries for the children in rural areas. I’m very glad to make Otis China part of this joint effort organized by our parent company, UTC, which not only demonstrates our continuous care for the children’s wellbeing, but gives our employees the opportunities to roll up their sleeves and contribute together with the company,” concluded Tom Vining, President, Otis China Area.
The Library Project is a non-profit charity organization that donates books and libraries to the under-financed schools in the developing world. Thus far, The Library Project has created more than 1,000 libraries for elementary schools in the remote areas in China. The Library Project is a charity partner of China Population Welfare Foundation – a non-profit charity organization approved by the Ministry of Civil Affairs Registry.
United Technologies, based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the global aerospace and building industries.
About The Library Project
The Library Project is dedicated to improving rural education in China and throughout the world by providing children with access to libraries, literacy programs, and teacher training. Since 2006, they have benefited over a million children and teachers in more than 3,000 schools. Their programs include Reading Rooms, Reading Corners, Literacy Bags, and STEAM Boxes, all designed to create educational spaces where children can learn and grow. The Library Project is committed to measurable impact and continuous support for rural elementary schools, kindergartens, orphanages, community centers, and the home. For more information, visit www.library-project.org.