Toshiba sets up fund to assist devastated Japan

Toshiba’s roots may be in Japan, but Toshiba America Business Solutions Inc. has a firm footing in Mitchell.

In the wake of the March 11 magnitude-9.0 earthquake that shook Japan and caused a devastating tsunami, relief funds have been created, including one through the American Red Cross and the local Toshiba facility.

Bryan Hisel, executive director of the Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce and the Mitchell Area Development Corp., said it’s a matter of giving back to a company that has shown its support for Mitchell for more than a quarter of a century.

“We’ve had a very, very good corporate citizen in Toshiba for over 25 years,” Hisel said. “It’s really an appreciation of the company, its management and employees here in Mitchell.”

Toshiba bought its plant in Mitchell in October 1986. It has about 150 employees who manufacture toner cartridges.

“They’ve been there for us and it’s a chance for our community to give something back,” Hisel said.

Toshiba has set up a disaster relief fund with the American Red Cross and donations can be made through that fund, he said.

Bill Nygaard, director of human services for the Toshiba plant in Mitchell, said two members of the company’s management are Japanese.

They have not returned to their homeland, but Nygaard said he is “sure” they have been in contact with family or friends in Japan.

A gift to the American Red Cross through the Toshiba/Red Cross fund will support dis-aster relief efforts to help those affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

The support offered will enable the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, emotional sup-port and other assistance to victims of the disasters.

According to the Bloomberg news service, the firm did not report any damage from the quake or the tsunami.

“Toshiba Corp. shut down a plant and evacuated employees in the northern prefecture of Iwate,” according to the Bloomberg report. “No damage was reported at the Iwate To-shiba Electronics Co. plant, which produces logic chips and CMOS image sensors for mo-bile-phone cameras, Keisuke Ohmori, a company spokesman, said today by telephone.”

According to its website, the Mitchell Toshiba plant has contributed to youth programs such as soccer and hockey, science fairs, after-prom parties, athletic activities, programs to encourage academic excellence and the educational system.

Toshiba medical equipment was given to Avera Queen of Peace Hospital, numerous photocopy machines have been donated to nonprofit organizations and test paper has been given to nonprofit organizations, including many local schools.

The company and its employees have made donations to the United Way. Toshiba and its employees have also shown support and participated in local events such as the balloon rally and the Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo.

Toshiba has donated Japanese encyclopedias, art computers and 68 Infinia computers to local schools. It has also made contributions to the Sho-To Tien Gardens, Mickelson Memorial Fund, Mount Rushmore Preservation and the Mitchell Activity Center.

Donations can be given through the Toshiba American Red Cross link, http://american.redcross.org/toshiba-pub, or by calling 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767) for more information.

Financial contributions to the American Red Cross are tax-deductible.

Tags: red cross, news, updates, local, japan, toshiba