SAE Foundation to Honor Roger Penske
The SAE Foundation next year is set to honor Roger Penske with the Industry Leadership Award. The award will be presented May 14 at the SAE Foundation Annual Celebration. Penske was chosen for his guiding impact in the automotive and transportation industry and for his philanthropic support, especially in Detroit, according to SAE Foundation.
“Penske has had a profound impact on the renaissance and revitalization of Detroit. Since the early 2000s he has joined with other individuals, corporations and philanthropic organizations in the revitalization of the city. He served as chairman of the 2006 Super Bowl committee, a catalyst for the Clean Downtown program that also created jobs for the disadvantaged. He also championed the purchase of over 100 emergency management vehicles and police cars for the City of Detroit,” SAE Foundation stated in a news release. “His leadership and involvement continued with the inauguration of the QLine, while the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear was launched in 2007 at his direction.
“The transformation experienced by Mr. Penske’s leadership in the revitalization of Detroit is not limited to the city. His concern for the future of Detroit extends to area youth,” said the SAE Foundation press release said.
Penske serves as chairman of Penske Corp., a $30 billion dollar, global transportation services company that includes Penske Automotive Group, Penske Truck Leasing and Team Penske.
“The young people of the community represent our future,” Penske said. “The investments we make in STEM education will help to ensure that our city, state and our important industries will have the human capital resources they need both now and in the future. I am honored to receive the SAE Foundation’s Industry Leadership Award.”
SAE’s education programs are an integral part of the science, technology, engineering and math curriculum in Detroit public schools and has impacted more than 60,000 students over the past 28 years, according to the foundation. SAE, with its industry partners, provides students with hands-on, integrated STEM learning experiences and teach skills such as critical thinking, teamwork and communication.
“Roger was a natural choice for our Industry Leadership Award,” said Lori Gatmaitan, director of SAE Foundation. “Roger’s passion and commitment for youth and STEM education mirrors our commitment to provide a solution for student engagement, participation and achievement in STEM. SAE’s STEM graduates have the solid foundation to perform tomorrow’s technical jobs for companies like Penske Corporation.”
