The General Motors Foundation today made two donations to local organizations totaling $25,000 through its Plant City Grants program.

Senior Vice President and Global Chief Information Officer presented a $15,000 check to East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT) and a $10,000 check to Make-A-Wish Arizona.  EVIT is a career and technical school offering more than 30 occupational training programs.  Make-A-Wish grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.

“It is important that we are good community neighbors here in Chandler and these grants provided by the GM Foundation allow us to give back in a big way each year,” Mott said.  “Through the Plant City Grants initiative, we’re helping to build stronger communities and are striving to enrich the lives of our neighbors.”

The grant presentation took place at the GM IT Arizona Innovation Center, 2900 W. Geronimo Place, Chandler. It is one of four innovation centers in the United States where GM IT professionals are developing mobile and web technologies to support GM dealers, customer databases, factory systems, vehicle-related technology and other state-of-the-art IT services.

Other GM innovation centers are located in Warren, Mich.; Roswell, Ga., and Austin, Texas.

The GM Foundation grants are given to a variety of organizations across the country that families rely on to provide much-needed services, improve education and impact the quality of life within their respective communities.

“This year, the GM Foundation will provide more than $1.7 million in funding to 209 organizations in 45 plant cities where GM employees live and work,” said GM Foundation Vice President Lori Wingerter. “Through these grants, we continue our mission to give back and build stronger communities where GM does business.”