Mitsubishi Motors joins Museum's campaign for local education, exhibits

The Mitsubishi Motors U.S.A. Foundation, in partnership with O'Brien Mitsubishi of Normal, presented the McLean County Museum of History today with a $50,000 gift to support the Museum’s free education programs and to help complete ongoing upgrades that are outlined by the Museum’s Extending Excellence campaign.“With today’s gift, the Mitsubishi Motors USA Foundation continues to give back to the Central Illinois community, a region that has been important to the brand's success," said Ryan Gremore, general manager and operating partner of O'Brien Mitsubishi of Normal. "We have an ongoing commitment to this region for many years to come.”Mitsubishi Motors North America will be included in the fourth of five planned new exhibit, Working for a Living, featuring artifacts, images, and documents from its long history in the community. This exhibit is currently being developed by guest curator Mike Matejka and Museum Curator Susan Hartzold, and is scheduled to open in September 2018. It will explore the local stories of workers and the diverse industries and innovations that have built McLean County into the thriving community it is today."Mitsubishi has a longstanding history of supporting the local community and now this gift will sustain efforts to both educate and document Mitsubishi’s contribution to the local economy," said Don Swearingen, executive vice president, of Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. "MMNA believes charitable giving is important to the health and well-being of the community and is part of our obligation as good corporate citizens."The Museum serves more than 8,200 local students and senior citizens with free educational programs and resources every year, reaching students and residents across nine counties. The third new exhibit gallery, Farming in the Great Corn Belt, set to open on March 25, 2017. The public can learn more about the Extending Excellence campaign and the Museum’s educational programming by visiting www.mchistory.org.