From left, Cindy Lauderbaugh, Michaeleen Petrosky, Mitsubishi Electric Power Products President Akira Tasaki, HOPE Committee Chairwoman Susan Renda and Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation Executive Director Rayna Aylward honor Mitsubishi workers for their volunteer and fundraising efforts for The Early Learning Institute.

MARSHALL TWP, Allegheny County — Workers at Mitsubishi Electric Power Products in Warrendale have been honored for their volunteer and fundraising efforts for The Early Learning Institute that provides early intervention for children with learning disabilities

The volunteers won the company's 2009 Mitsubishi Organized Volunteer Efforts (MOVE) Award for their "New Energy for an Old Friend" project.

The HOPE committee is a group of Mitsubishi employees dedicated to philanthropic efforts on behalf of the company.

This year, employees decided to have a series of smaller fundraising activities rather than one large event for the Early Learning Institute. They included a poker walk, a cookbook sale and a hallway golf event.

"We are so appreciative of the collaborative partnership we have formed with Mitsubishi over the years. Their staff members have worked tirelessly as volunteers for our organization providing both financial and in-kind support," said Kara Rutowski, executive director of The Early Learning Institute.

The MOVE Award is given annually to the best volunteer project organized by Mitsubishi employees.

In choosing this project, the judges cited originality of weaving different projects into a new approach, multiple ways employees were involved and the sustained impact on the organization and its children.

The Warrendale office received a crystal trophy, and $1,000 was donated from the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation to the Early Learning Institute.

"This has been a rewarding relationship for both Mitsubishi Electric Power Products, and me personally, to be able to directly help children in our own community," said Bruce Hampton, senior vice president and chief financial officer at Mitsubishi Electric Power Products.

He also is a member of the board of trustees of The Early Learning Institute.

Headquartered in the Thorn Hill Industrial Park off Keystone Drive., Mitsubishi Electric Power Products, is a U.S. subsidiary of Mitsubishi Electric. It has more than 350 workers in Warrendale.

In nearly 20 years, Mitsubishi has donated more than $50,000 in money and in-kind items to the institute, which serves more than 1,600 children.