WALTHAM, Mass., March 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) today announced a $10 million pledge to support initiatives aimed at empowering service members and their families through education opportunities. The new five-year commitment will support science, technology, engineering and math education and mentorship programs in partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Student Veterans of America.

Raytheon's Chairman and CEO Thomas A. Kennedy said the new initiative builds upon the company's commitment to support the men, women and families of the armed services.

"Our goal is to develop the innovative technologies and solutions our service members need to accomplish their mission and return home safely," Kennedy said. "This pledge demonstrates our commitment to supporting success in civilian life that armed service members and their families so richly deserve."

"Raytheon volunteerism is a key tenet of our culture that continues to manifest itself in mentoring and training in classrooms, after-school programs and professional workshops," continued Kennedy. "Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Student Veterans of America have longstanding commitment to the communities they serve. We are honored to be able to bridge these two communities to support military personnel, veterans and their families."

Boys & Girls Clubs of America are a constant presence in the life of a military child, with a BGCA-affiliated youth center on nearly every U.S. military installation and in communities with a strong military presence. The organization partners with every branch of the U.S. military serving nearly half a million school-age military youth.  

Student Veterans of America chapters are run by and for student veterans. The organization is the world's largest network of student veteran groups with more than 1,100 chapters in all 50 states and four countries, providing a peer support network that is critical to a veteran's successful transition to academic life. SVA's national initiatives and campus-based model focuses solely on enabling veterans to graduate with market-valued degrees.

"Academic excellence ensures economic prosperity and inspires the spirit of innovation that has made the United States a great nation," said Kennedy. "Children whose parents are in the armed services are more likely to join the military themselves. Nurturing a love of learning for military families solidifies a healthy and robust 21^st-century workforce and the next generation of leadership that will keep our nation safe."

Raytheon has a rich tradition of commitment to supporting active duty personnel, veterans and military families. Each year, the company's employees, including its Employee Veterans Network "RAYVETS," donate their time and resources to support initiatives like Wounded Warrior Project, Fisher House, and the USO. Their efforts also include the Fund in Support of our Troops, an employee-driven fund to help meet the needs of American troops in all military branches and their families through nine specific organizations.

About Raytheon

Raytheon Company, with 2014 sales of $23 billion and 61,000 employees worldwide, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, security and civil markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 93 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as cyber security and a broad range of mission support services. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. For more about Raytheon, visit us at www.raytheon.com and follow us on Twitter @raytheon.

Media Contact

Raytheon Company
Allison Jeannotte
781-522-5145
corporatepr@raytheon.com

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SOURCE Raytheon Company