PRINT ARTICLE

Print    Close This Window
The Lubrizol Foundation Donation
Firefighter
Auburn Career Center in Concord Township receives donation from The Lubrizol Foundation
By Chad Felton, The News-Herald
Posted: 03/19/18, 6:49 PM EDT

Thanks to a $50,000 donation from The Lubrizol Foundation, Auburn Career Center in Concord Township soon will welcome a 20-foot by 60-foot facility that will be located behind its existing horticulture building.

According to an Auburn news release, the facility will house a fire truck donated by the Middlefield Volunteer Fire Department; a rescue ambulance donated by the Plymouth Township Fire Department; and a variety of safety equipment.

“This will free us from borrowing equipment and services from fire departments across Lake and Geauga counties,” said Sean Davis, director of public safety education at Auburn. “They could not afford to continue loaning us equipment and had to charge us for its use. The building will be used for more than just storage for our public safety equipment. It can also serve as an area for our students to work indoors on certain skills.”

Auburn is working to build programs to support the first responder community by enhancing the offerings for high school and adult students, the release stated.

In the 2018-2019 academic year, Auburn is adding a high school criminal justice program which already has yielded 50 applications.
“First responders play a vital role in our community,” said Auburn Career Center Superintendent Brian Bontempo. “It’s critical. We want to provide the facilities to ensure they have the training to be successful at their jobs. By providing continuing education for the first responder community, we can increase the number of students that are in the pipeline for these positions and provide additional opportunities for people interested in those careers. We take this very seriously.

“The donation also helps us fill a training space gap in the area. And with the new facility located right on the property, we’re optimistic we’ll continue to grow our services for our local first responders. It’s up to us to take the responsibility. We’re very excited to be partnering with them. This is a wonderful opportunity.”

The mission of The Lubrizol Foundation is to complement and support the interests, values and vision of The Lubrizol Corp. by awarding financial support to educational institutions and charitable organizations in communities.

The donation will fund the first stage of the project, designed with the idea to accommodate future expansion as the program grows.

One of the biggest challenges the center has faced in recent years has been space. Interest in recent programs alone has generated a 20 percent increase since last year’s junior class.

Addressing the demand is a good problem to have, Bontempo said.

“We are extremely appreciative of the strong partnership we have with Lubrizol,” he added. “They are excellent partners and are always willing to help schools and their communities. We are grateful for their support and look forward to future endeavors.”

The president of The Lubrizol Foundation, J. Mark Sutherland, believes that the corporation’s founders recognized education as a critical role in building strong businesses and communities.

“The Lubrizol Foundation proudly continues their tradition of support for education now and for the future,” he said. “Lubrizol continues to focus on improving the communities in which our employees live and work. We are a proud partner of Auburn Career Center and support its ongoing commitment to education and training.”

Auburn Career Center will break ground on the new facility in the spring.