SHANGHAI – July 31, 2013 – Johnson Controls employees in Shanghai joined together during the company’s annual Vision Week celebration to assemble 80 prosthetic hands for landmine victims in developing countries.
The donation was made through the Helping Hands program as part of The Ellen Meadows Prosthetic Hand Foundation (EMPHF). The organization estimates that of the 300,000 global landmine related amputees, 20 percent of whom are children, up to 50,000 people are living without a hand.
“These prosthetic hands change the lives of people in need. Our donation embodies Johnson Controls’ commitment to the communities in which we live and work,” said Kenneth Yeng, vice president and general manager, Johnson Controls Power Solutions China. “I’m proud of our company and employees for coming together to support this program.”
The hands were built during Johnson Controls’ Vision Week celebration, an annual global event promoting the company’s vision and values. This project was selected as a team building exercise for employees of the Power Solutions division, which is the world’s largest supplier of automotive batteries.
Employees worked together to assemble the LN-4 Hand, which is a fraction of the cost of traditional prosthetics, but still fully functional. As of March 2013, the Helping Hands program, which started in 2005, has provided more than 13,000 people in 67 countries with prosthetic hands.
The prosthetics will be shipped to the foundation July 31, 2013, where they will be inspected before being sent to recipients around the world.
“If it was not for companies like Johnson Controls, which acknowledge and feel a sense of responsibility to its community and in fact the world, our organization would not exist,” said Michael Mendonca, president, The Ellen Meadows Prosthetic Hand Foundation. “We are extremely grateful for these efforts.”
This is just one of many community involvement programs Johnson Controls sponsors in China. Others include:
- Blue Sky Involve program: 1,962 employee volunteers worked 16,232 hours in 2012 on 125 different projects, including a safety training program conducted by Power Solutions employees in elementary schools throughout the country.
- Conservation Leadership Corps (CLC) 1,000 Environment-Friendly Youth Ambassadors Action program: From 2009 to 2010, 1,122 youth ambassadors were trained on climate change in six cities throughout China, impacting more than one million people.
About Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in more than 150 countries. Our 170,000 employees create quality products, services and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and interior systems for automobiles. Our commitment to sustainability dates back to our roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. Through our growth strategies and by increasing market share we are committed to delivering value to shareholders and making our customers successful. In 2013, Corporate Responsibility Magazine recognized Johnson Controls as the #14 company in its annual “100 Best Corporate Citizens” list. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com.
About Johnson Controls Power Solutions
Johnson Controls Power Solutions is the global leader in lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for Start-Stop, hybrid and electric vehicles. Our 50 manufacturing, recycling and distribution centers supply more than one-third of the world's lead-acid batteries to major automakers and aftermarket retailers. Through our innovations we are building the advanced battery industry for hybrid and electric vehicles. We were the first company in the world to produce lithium-ion batteries for mass-production hybrid vehicles. Our commitment to sustainability is evidenced by our world-class technology, manufacturing and recycling capabilities.