America's Love Affair with the Auto Industry Gets Vocational at Kennedy-King College

- Chrysler Group announces $225,000 support of Chicagoland Youth and Adult Training Center

CHICAGO, Feb. 1 -- The Chrysler Group today announced its support of the Chicagoland Youth and Adult Training Center (CYATC), a training initiative located at Kennedy-King College. The year-long program is designed to bring automotive technical training and automotive career opportunities to at-risk youths and young adults from low-income communities. Chrysler Group will contribute more than $225,000 to the center, including a $50,000 donation from the DaimlerChrysler Corporation Fund to the center's operations and a donation of vehicles and diagnostic equipment valued at $175,000.

Chrysler Group Midwest Business Center Director Jim Browne joined CYATC's co-founder and executive director Rev. Henry Barlow, Chicago City Colleges Chancellor Wayne Watson, community leaders and CYATC students and graduates in making the announcement at the training center.

"Chrysler Group is strongly committed to creating partnerships that take innovative approaches in launching community-based programs that foster job opportunities for youth," said Browne. "We commend Rev. Barlow for his diligence in creating another avenue to provide skills training, mentoring and job placement in the automotive industry."

Browne was joined by Chrysler Financial Vice President William Jones today in a formal check presentation ceremony and the unveiling of the donated vehicle and diagnostic equipment, which includes a Chrysler Sebring convertible, Dodge Dakota, Chrysler Town & Country, and Chrysler Pacifica.

"This program exists because of the creative collaboration between faith- based organizations, community organizations, area businesses, labor unions, government agencies and educational institutions," said Barlow. "These diverse public and private partners joined together with a single-minded focus on bringing real-life skills training and job opportunities to our young adults. It's a model that has a proven track record of success now and one that I'm excited to see grow into the future."

Rev. Barlow congratulated Browne and Jones on Chrysler Group's financial support at the start of the program's fifth year, noting the company's commitment to job training and job placement will mean the opportunity for more young adults from Chicago's diverse communities to enter career paths in the industry.

Since its inception, more than 200 young adults have enrolled in CYATC from a diverse mix of Chicago communities.