By Molly Parker
mparker@scbiznews.com
Published Aug. 12, 2009

As one of its first official acts as a corporate citizen since taking over the Vought Aircraft Industries plant in North Charleston, The Boeing Co. presented a $25,000 donation to Trident United Way today.

Trident United Way President Christopher Kerrigan said the money would go to a child literacy program that the United Way operates with the Medical University of South Carolina.

The check was presented today at a community luncheon at Trident Technical College that included local and state officials, including S.C. Secretary of Commerce Joe Taylor, North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey and Charleston Regional Development Alliance CEO David Ginn.

Nationally, Boeing and its employees have donated more than $36 million to United Way chapters across the country, making Boeing one of the United Way’s top five givers.

“They basically define corporate citizenship in the communities that they do business,” Kerrigan said.

Boeing Charleston Vice President Tim Coyle said this is part of Boeing’s introduction as a partner in the community and part of the company’s ongoing outreach efforts to serve the communities in which it operates.

“At Boeing, we have values and vision, and giving back to the community is one of those core values,” Coyle said.