Evonik Corporation Donates $10,000 To Hopewell School System

Evonik Corporation, a leading specialty chemical company and one of the largest employers in the area, today announced a donation of $10,000 to the Hopewell School division.

“Our youth are our future, and we need to continually invest in them,“ said Dr. Reinhold Brand, senior vice president and general manager of Evonik's Consumer Specialties Business Unit in North America. “We need young people with a strong background in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), to ensure America remains competitive in the world, and Evonik wants to do its part.“

As a partner in education, Evonik Corporation has continued to show great support to Hopewell City Public Schools, said Dr. John A. Fahey, superintendent of Hopewell City Public Schools.

“In these days of economic challenges, Dr. Brand and his team at Evonik have helped us go beyond the basics for our children, and we are a stronger community as a result,“ Dr. Fahey said. “We are so appreciative of this donation from Evonik.“

Dr. Tina M. Barringer, supervisor of math, science and instructional technology for Hopewell City Public Schools, said Evonik's connection with Hopewell schools goes beyond the dollar. “With initiatives like a summer teacher internship, a math tutoring program for fifth graders, and a major involvement at career fairs, Evonik truly makes a difference in the lives of our students,” she said. “We consider Evonik to be not just a neighbor, but family.”

Evonik and other companies in the Greater Richmond area depend on highly skilled employees to fill science, math, and engineering vacancies, said Evonik Hopewell Site Manager Phil Munson.

“Evonik employees in Hopewell volunteer at high schools,“ he added, “so students can see someone who has a meaningful job with a bright career path in front of them. It allows students to visualize how they could be in that position ten years down the road.“

Evonik needs the brightest minds to fill positions at the company. In February, Evonik announced its plan to invest more than $15 million in its new Richmond Business & Innovation Center and create an estimated 50 jobs over the next five years.

“With our new Richmond Business & Innovation Center, we are doubling our laboratory space to undertake special research and development projects including joint operative research for customers,“ Dr. Brand said. “The center will open up a number of entrepreneurial opportunities for us, and we will need qualified individuals to do this work.“

Last year, Evonik donated $10,000 to fund an innovative program at Hopewell High School using race cars to help students learn about science and technology.

Designed to provide students with first-hand, real-world learning about science, technology, engineering and math concepts, the hands-on project-based learning experience was delivered using remote controlled race cars as the primary tool of instruction.

For additional information about Evonik in North America, please visit our website: www.evonik.com/north-america. Please visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EvonikNorthAmerica. Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EvonikN_America.