Mattel gives Otis College $1.8M
By Staff -- Playthings, 11/11/2009 12:41:00 PM
LOS ANGELES—Mattel has donated $1.85 million to Los Angeles’ Otis College of Art and Design, one of the few U.S. colleges that offers a degree program in toy design.
Samuel Hoi, president of Otis College of Art and Design accepted the gift from Bryan Stockton, president of Mattel International and member of Otis Board of Trustees at an event today.
“Otis College is fortunate to have a generous corporate citizen like Mattel in our midst,” said Hoi. “To be competitive in the world and in this age of ideas and innovation, we must embrace creativity in our schools as well as our workplaces. Mattel clearly understands this important issue by responding with this generous gift.”
Mattel’s philanthropic gift, part of a commitment by the toymaker to funnel 2 percent of its pretax profits to philanthropic efforts, will support Otis student scholarships, art and design curriculum and facility enhancement.
“We see this financial contribution as an investment in the future,” said Stockton. “While some companies currently hold back their charitable giving, Mattel feels strongly about investing now in the next generation of creative leaders, in the health of our economy, in the strength of our communities, and in innovations in the art and design industry.”
Mattel and Otis have a history together spanning more than 15 years. In that time Mattel has contributed “hundreds of thousands of dollars,” according to the company, to support the college through classroom collaborations in toy and fashion design, sponsorship of the school’s annual Scholarship Benefit and Fashion Show, and funding for student visits to Hong Kong toy manufacturers. The toymaker also participates in Otis’ annual internship fair, graduate show preview and portfolio review process, and is the largest employer of Otis graduates, hiring designers from across a number of Otis College departments, including Communication Arts, Toy Design, Fashion Design and Digital Media.
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