The Michigan Lean Consortium Announces its Status as a 501(c)3 Organization

SOUTH LYON, Mich. - March 3, 2014 - PRLog -- The Michigan Lean Consortium (MLC) is proud to announce it is now officially a public charity with tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)3 of the United States Internal Revenue Code. This means that contributions to the MLC are fully tax-deductible. The MLC is also now eligible to apply for government and foundation grants, which will further broaden its access to resources and strengthen its ability to serve those who live, learn and earn in Michigan.

Debra Levantrosser, a founder of MLC, said, "Having been approved as a 501(c)3 organization means that the MLC can continue to focus its efforts on community education and offering unique training and benchmarking events. This is important because it allows us to carefully examine our fundraising efforts, which may result in more opportunities for growth and program offerings in 2014 and beyond."

Former membership liaison, Julianne Leigh, said, “Obtaining 501(c)3 status is a major milestone for the MLC. This opens many doors for us to expand fundraising activities and fully realize our goals as a charitable educational organization.”

The mission of the MLC is to offer diverse educational programs and workshops on lean topics that promote sharing of innovative practices, networking, and fostering a sustainable advantage for Michigan’s public, private, and educational organizations. Our vision is to help all of these organizations in Michigan achieve a benchmark level of efficiency and competitiveness.

The charter members of the MLC include: Amway, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, DTE Energy, Johnson & Johnson, The Lean Learning Center, Northwestern Michigan College, the Oakland University Pawley Lean Institute and the Michigan Shingo Prize through The Right Place.

Media Contact:  Lauren Stewart coordinator@michiganlean.org