Michelin North America, Inc. recognized for $15,000 donation to the Lexington One Educational Foundation
November 2, 2025
Lexington One Educational Foundation’s Past Chair Lisa McMeekin Phillips and Vice Chair Katrina D. Bryant; Lexington District One Superintendent Dr. Keith Price: Michelin’s US5 facility Plant Manager Nicolas Paumont-Crausse and Quality Manager Will Salley (also serves as foundation board member); Lexington One Educational Foundation’s Executive Director Julie Anderson Washburn, board member Melissa Moore, and Lexington One School Board Liaison, Nicholas Pizzuti.
During the Lexington County School District One School Board meeting that was held on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, Michelin North America, Inc. was recognized for its generous annual contribution of $15,000 to the Lexington One Educational Foundation.
In attendance from Michelin’s US5 facility were Plant Manager, Nicolas Paumont-Crausse and Quality Manager, Will Salley. The Lexington One Educational Foundation representatives who attended to formally accept the generous donation included Vice Chair Katrina D. Bryant, Past Chair Lisa McMeekin Phillips, Board members Will Salley and Melissa Moore, School Board Liaison Nicholas Pizzuti, and Executive Director Julie Anderson Washburn.
The Educational Foundation’s Board of Directors are extremely grateful for Michelin’s most generous support of Lexington School District One through the corporation’s steadfast donations to the Lexington One Educational Foundation.
Annually, the Educational Foundation offers Michelin Golden Apple Teacher Grant Awards, thanks to the corporate partnership established more than 20 years ago to support the district’s teachers and their students. These grants, valued at $500 each and totaling $5,000 annually, enable the winning teachers to purchase supplemental educational classroom items like STEM kits and books for classroom libraries that enhance and strengthen students’ learning.
In addition, in 2018, Michelin began an additional 3-year, $30,000 partnership with the Lexington One Educational Foundation, which is a $10,000 annual investment in our middle and high school VEX Robotics teams. Foundation leaders are thankful that this investment has since been renewed twice.
This additional commitment of $10,000 annually from Michelin strengthens the STEM skills of Lexington District One students who actively participate on the middle and high school robotics teams. During the 2025-2026 school year, 10 schools received Michelin VEX Robotics Grants from the Educational Foundation, thanks to this corporate partnership. These teams are invaluable in developing our students career skills to create future engineers, coders, robotics technicians and other employees with marketable skills needed in the manufacturing industry.
Furthermore, Michelin’s local support to the foundation extended by the US5 and US7 sites have also funded a STEM lab at Meadow Glen Middle School and sponsored numerous Foundation special events. And Michelin employees continue to serve as student mentors at a number of schools in Lexington District One, including Red Bank Elementary School this school year.
“At Michelin, we believe that being a responsible corporate citizen means making a positive impact in the communities where we live and work. Supporting the Lexington One Educational Foundation is one way we can help empower students to reach their full potential,” said Nicolas Paumont-Crauss. “By investing in STEM programs, we’re helping to create the innovators and leaders of tomorrow. We could not do this without the committed educators of Lexington One School District, whose unwavering dedication to education drives meaningful progress in our community.”
Ms. Washburn shared, “We are so pleased to have Michelin and its Lexington leaders recognized by Lexington District One’s Board of Trustees for the most generous annual investment of $15,000 in the Lexington One Educational Foundation this school year. This financial support is a direct investment in our students, as it helps to strengthen and broaden their STEM skills in many wonderful ways via the Educational Foundation’s grants.”
The Lexington One Educational Foundation’s Board of Directors and staff are extremely grateful to have such a terrific corporate partner as Michelin, whose leaders choose to invest in local students and their future careers through their charitable donations to the foundation.
About Lexington County School District One Educational Foundation
Established 30 years ago as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, the Lexington One Educational Foundation is a source of growth and support for Lexington County School District One. Our mission is to support the district’s educational programs and enrich the quality of life in the Lexington community by raising and managing funds. Annually, the Foundation’s board, staff and volunteers work to build partnerships with individuals and corporations in order to benefit Lexington District One students, teachers, and schools. We plant seeds in our district that bloom into amazing educational opportunities for our students! To learn more about our mission and how to give, visit: www.Lex1EdFound.org.
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