The PPG Industries Foundation donated $5,000 to the Women in Engineering (WiE) Program at The Ohio State University to support the 2011 WiE CHEER (CHEmical Engineering Rocks!) summer program for girls about to enter ninth grade. The grant, made on behalf of PPG Industries’ automotive coatings manufacturing facility in Circleville, Ohio, helped to cover materials and activities for the six-day program, and Plant Manager Dave Moss and three other PPG Circleville employees visited the Ohio State campus to meet participants and see the young women’s final project presentations.

CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio, Dec. 16, 2011 – The PPG Industries Foundation donated $5,000 to the Women in Engineering (WiE) Program at The Ohio State University to support the 2011 WiE CHEER (CHEmical Engineering Rocks!) summer program for girls about to enter ninth grade. The grant was made on behalf of PPG Industries’ (NYSE:PPG) coatings manufacturing facility in Circleville, Ohio.

“We thank PPG for its support of WiE CHEER, which offers young women a chance to learn about chemical engineering concepts as well as real-world practices,” said Shawna Fletcher, associate director of outreach for The Ohio State University. “The program engages students at a crucial point in their educational trajectory, as they are about to start high school. It’s great for them to get to meet chemical industry professionals, such as the PPG employees who came to see the participants’ final project presentations.”

The PPG grant helped to cover materials and activities for the six-day program, which was held in June. For the first five days, WiE CHEER participants left campus to visit an area business or corporation where chemical engineers offered glimpses of their careers. Upon returning to campus, the girls engaged in hands-on activities that introduced them to chemical engineering concepts, conducting experiments and projects as if they were practicing chemical engineers. On the last day of camp, Plant Manager Dave Moss and three other PPG Circleville employees, as well as other WiE CHEER corporate sponsors, visited the Ohio State campus to meet participants and see their final project presentations.

“PPG is strongly committed to supporting the communities where it has a presence, especially programs that encourage younger generations, and girls in particular, to pursue technology-related education,” Moss said. “We were very happy to support WiE CHEER and help spark these young women’s interest in chemical engineering careers, and we greatly enjoyed meeting the participants and seeing what they learned through the camp.”

Established in 1951, the PPG Industries Foundation demonstrates the values of PPG Industries by enhancing the quality of life in communities where the company has a presence. Interests of the foundation, in order of priority, are education, human services, culture and arts, and civic and community affairs. PPG also supports charitable causes by encouraging employees' volunteerism and board service with nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit www.ppgfoundation.com.

About the Women in Engineering Program at The Ohio State University
The Women in Engineering Program at The Ohio State University works to increase the number of women earning degrees in engineering. Through partnerships with alumni, corporations, and community and educational organizations, WiE develops innovative and exciting programming to introduce girls and women to the wide variety of careers and opportunities available to engineers. In creating a supportive and inclusive culture, WiE encourages students to reach their full potential as future engineering professionals. The 2012 WiE CHEER camp is planned for June 18-22. For more about this camp and other WiE program efforts, visit wie.osu.edu.

PPG: BRINGING INNOVATION TO THE SURFACE.(TM)
PPG Industries' vision is to continue to be the world’s leading coatings and specialty products company. Through leadership in innovation, sustainability and color, PPG helps customers in industrial, transportation, consumer products, and construction markets and aftermarkets to enhance more surfaces in more ways than does any other company. Founded in 1883, PPG has global headquarters in Pittsburgh and operates in more than 60 countries around the world. Sales in 2010 were $13.4 billion. PPG shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: PPG). For more information, visit www.ppg.com.

–111216Circleville_OSUWiE– Contact:
K.C. McCrory
PPG Corporate Communications
412-434-2445
kmccrory@ppg.com