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09/01/2010 03:21 PM

Samsung donates $1 million to United Way program

By: News 8 Austin Staff

Samsung donates $1 million to United Way program
Samsung marked a multi-million dollar expansion by giving back.

Wednesday, officials with Samsung donated $1 million to United Way Capital Area’s Success By 6 program. The program works to identify barriers to learning in children and breaks them down by the time they’re ready to enter kindergarten.

“We are honored and deeply appreciative of such a generous gift and look forward to all of the possibilities and opportunities this will continue to create for our youngest and most vulnerable students,” United Way Capital Area Board Chairman Kevin Cole said.

Samsung’s President of Semiconductor Business Dr. Oh-Hyun Kwon said they made a commitment to give back to the community when they first came to Austin.

“Samsung promised that it would ‘be a major contributor to the community and a good friend to our neighbors.’ That pledge was extraordinarily important to us, and our gift to Success By 6 is just the latest manifestation of our commitment,” he said.

Samsung’s recent announcement of a $3.6-billion expansion is expected to employ 600 more people, and expand their payroll by $42 million.

“We are proud to have Samsung in the Texas family. It has not only invested heavily in infrastructure and created good jobs for Texans, it is also a great corporate citizen making a difference in its local community," Gov. Rick Perry said.

Samsung's donation is the largest corporate donation ever given to the Success By 6 program.