By Mandi Cheesman - The Shelbyville News
(September 1994)
PK U.S.A. Inc. has pledged $100,000 to the Self Shelbyville Boys Club and Girls Inc. Capital Campaign.
"These are two very worthy organizations," said Shoichi Namiki, president of PK U.S.A.
"As a corporation, we are convinced that these two organizations are vital to improving the quality of life here in Shelby County," he said.
Namiki said the producer of steel and plastic auto parts believes strongly in giving back to the community, "a community that has supported our corporation since we first located here six years ago."
PK U.S.A., 600 Northridge Drive, employs 315 people.
The donation leaves the campaign just $200,000 short of the $2.5 million goal, according to Bob Claxton and Rose McNeely, co-chairs of the campaign.
"We're pleased with the unbelievably generous corporate support that we have received," Claxton said. "This is the first capital campaign in 30 years in Shelby County and local corporations have dug deep in their pockets to help us help children in Shelby County."
Campaign organizers are raising the money to build a new facility for the girls club, which uses space in the Carl McNeely Civic Center, 945 S. Tompkins St.
Some of the money is also earmarked for an addition to the boys club at 710 S. Miller St. The girls club facility will be built next to the boys club.
To date, $2.3 million, or 92 percent of the goal, has been pledged. More than 300 individuals and corporations have donated to the campaign.
"We have discovered what we already knew when we started this campaign," McNeely said. "Shelby County is a very generous and loving community. Individuals and companies here want to help improve the quality of the lives of our greatest resource - our children."
McNeely and Claxton said the campaign will end once the goal has been reached, which should be within the next few weeks.
