VIEWPOINT | COMMUNITY OUTREACH AT COOPER STANDARD

Most companies do community work through their local factories and offices, but at Cooper Standard it is woven into the fabric of the company's culture. Employees of the Novi, Mich.-based supplier of sealing and trim, fuel and brake, fluid transfer and anti-vibration systems support everything from scholarships and grants to local disaster relief and clinics for homeless children.

Now it is expanding such activities at the corporate level with its Cooper Standard Careers for Veterans program in partnership with NASCAR race driver Brad Keselowski's Checkered Flag Foundation. The goal of the new program is to provide career opportunities for military veterans and those transitioning from active service. Keselowski is the national spokesman for the program and is helping build greater awareness. Sharon Wenzl, of the Cooper Standard Foundation that coordinates the veteran's program and other local-level community outreach projects, describes the company's outreach vision.

How did the Cooper Standard Careers for Veterans program evolve?

In many cases, military veterans possess unique skill sets that can be put to work at Cooper Standard. We've also been a primary partner with Keselowski's BKR team since 2011. After learning of an injured veteran who was a high school classmate, he established his Checkered Flag Foundation to bring wounded veterans to NASCAR races.

In February 2014, we launched our own program to establish career paths for returning veterans as a natural evolution of the company's community involvement programs. We were already partnering with the Checkered Flag Foundation in training programs. We both saw common ground and decided to coordinate our activities. In fact, Cooper Standard and the Checkered Flag Foundation are teaming up to sponsor the Career for Veterans 200 at Michigan International Speedway on Aug. 16, 2014, as part of the campaign to bring visibility to the importance of hiring our veterans.

What types of jobs are available for veterans at Cooper Standard?

We have opportunities for qualified veterans across a very wide range of areas from administrative, finance, human resources and purchasing to engineering, manufacturing, shipping and logistics. The Cooper Standard website displays a continually updated list of job opportunities by type and location.

How does the veterans program tie in to the Cooper Standard Foundation?

The foundation, which was created in April 2013, coordinates our community outreach programs, including Careers for Veterans. The Careers for Veterans program is as much about getting the word out to other manufacturers to consider hiring veterans as it is about Cooper Standard hiring veterans.

Additionally, the Cooper Standard Foundation has partnered in the Detroit area with Inforum and Focus: HOPE to provide transition training for veterans. It also is the focus for the company's support of numerous grass roots activities related to children's charities, education, community revitalization and health and wellness.

What is the foundation's mission?

The mission is to strengthen the communities in which Cooper Standard employees work and live through the passionate support of children's charities, education, health and wellness and community revitalization. The foundation is overseen by a board of trustees and is administered by a philanthropic committee.

Last year the foundation allocated $1 million in grants in three primary areas. One is support for nonprofit organizations in local communities where the company has a presence. Cooper Standard's philanthropic activities in 2013 alone have touched some 60 organizations in seven countries.

Our second area of interest is education. We grant approximately 70 scholarships per year for the children of our employees. Thirdly, the foundation has a matching program for employee engagement activities. When four or more of our employees gather to raise funds for a charity that is within the mission of the foundation, we will match their contribution.

Click HERE to learn more about Cooper Standard and its Careers for Veterans initiative or visit www.cooperstandard.com.