Carolina First Center for Excellence Receives Fujikura Foundation Grant

10/02/2008

Spartanburg, SC - AFL announces that the Carolina First Center for Excellence, operating under the Greenville Chamber Foundation, is the recipient of a $5,125 Fujikura Foundation grant in support of professional development. The grant spans a one-year time frame.

“A quality workforce is of concern not only to us but to our community,” said Corie Culp, Community Relations Manager for AFL. “The Carolina First Center for Excellence has taken the initiative to focus in this area, realizing that the success of the education system to produce a qualified workforce and consumer base is essential for the success of the community. We’re pleased to be able to financially support their endeavors with differences that will last a lifetime.”

The Fujikura Foundation grant is supporting professional development and other services of one new school volunteering to join the partnership for the 2008 – 2009 school year. The school will have approximately 60 – 100 teachers depending upon the size of the school.

“The purpose of the Carolina First Center for Excellence is to bring about systemic change in schools and classrooms within Greenville County and across the state,” stated Michele Brinn, Director of CFCE and VP of Workforce Development for the Greenville Chamber of Commerce. “The grant we received today will help move us forward as we continue to add new schools into the program. We’re pleased to have received this in support of our endeavor to improve our schools within the county.”

The mission of the Carolina First Center for Excellence is to serve as the provider of exemplary training, coaching and related services in continuous quality improvement, including Baldrige principles and practices to schools, district and other educations organization. The Center presently serves thirty schools affecting more than 15,000 students. For additional information, visit www.greenvillechamber.org.

For additional information on AFL and the Fujikura Foundation, visit www.AFLglobal.com.

About AFL
AFL is an industry leader in providing fiber optic products, engineering expertise and integrated services to the Electric Utility, Broadband, Telco, OEM, Private Network and Wireless markets. It has operations in the U.S., Mexico and the U.K. AFL is a division of Fujikura Ltd. of Japan.

About Fujikura Foundation
With a commitment to being an exemplary corporate citizen for the communities in which we operate, America Fujikura Ltd., parent company to AFL and AFL Network Services, has established a Foundation that focuses on four Areas of Opportunity supporting families, education, the environment and community partnerships. In keeping with both our current corporate strategies and principles, Fujikura Foundation is providing monetary contributions and volunteer opportunities so that we can give back to the communities who have made our existence possible.

Contact 
Corie Culp, Public Relations Manager
AFL
864.433.5409
corie.culp@aflglobal.com