Lockheed Martin Plant Manager David Teague recently presented corporate donations to six community agencies. Pictured (left to right) are Fannie Mae Johnson of Love’s Kitchen; Leslie Payne of Care Lodge; Teague; Thad Quarles of the United Way of East Mississippi; Lorri Matthews of the American Red Cross; and Mary Welch of the Salvation Army.

    Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is committed to a program of philanthropy that enhances in the quality of life in the communities where its employees work and live. As part of that commitment, Meridian Plant Manager David Teague recently presented corporate gifts totaling $12,000 to six local agencies:

    • American Red Cross, which provides food, clothing, and lodging to disaster victims; offers community services and educational programs; and supports the military and their families.

    • Care Lodge Domestic Shelter, the only certified domestic violence shelter in our area.

    • Love’s Kitchen (Lauderdale Outreach and Volunteer Effort, Inc.), which serves more than 6,000 hot meals every month to people unable to purchase food.   

    • Salvation Army, which helps to meet the immediate needs of underprivileged people.

    • United Way of East Mississippi, which collects and distributes funds for 14 member agencies, provides counseling and referrals for clients, and makes emergency grants.  

    • Wesley House Community Center, Inc., which offers tools to help people break their cycle of poverty.

    In addition to the company donations, Lockheed Martin employees contribute weekly to the United Way through payroll deductions and conduct fundraising and volunteer activities assisting charities in our community.

    “The Lockheed Martin values – do what’s right, respect others, and perform with excellence – apply not only to how we behave within the company, they also apply to the way our company and our employees interact with our neighbors,” Teague said. “We’re proud to be part of the Meridian and Lauderdale County community, and we’re pleased to be able to lend a hand.”

    Lockheed Martin has been part of the Meridian community since when it opened its Aeronautics facility here in 1969. The 225 employees at the Meridian plant assemble subassemblies for both the C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft and the F-22 Raptor, the world’s premier air dominance fighter.

    Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 132,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation’s 2010 sales from continuing operations were $45.8 billion.