Canton-based Yazaki North America, Inc., employees have been working for the last five months to volunteer their time to help the community — and that has led to donations to charity.

To recognize the employees’ hard work, the Yazaki Associate Volunteerism Council (AVC) donated $44,000 during an office-wide ceremony June 23 at the company’s Canton campus.

The money was raised by funds from casual jean Fridays, bake sales and merchandise sales, among other events.

This year’s organizations are involved in everything from making the world greener to bringing relief to people who are in need of basic necessities. Donations have been made to the following:

• Alternatives For Girls (https://alternativesforgirls.org.).
• The Association for Youth Empowerment (https://ayedetroit.org/).
• Fleece and Thank You (http://fleeceandthankyou.org/).
• Gleaners Community Food Bank (http://www.gcfb.org/).
• The Greening of Detroit (http://www.greeningofdetroit.com/).
• Make-A-Wish (http://wish.org/).
• The National Neighborhood Properties Community Development Corporation (NNPCDC).
• The NOAH Project (http://noahprojectdetroit.org/)
• The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) (https://www.nami.org/)
• Sikhcess (http://www.sikhcess.org/)
• The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (http://www.svdpusa.org/)
• Special Olympics Michigan (http://www.somi.org/)

The submission that won the first place prize of $8,000 was the NOAH (Networking, Organizing, and Advocating for the Homeless) Project – led by YNCA financial business planner Bill Drabing – to empower the low income and homeless in Detroit.

The NOAH Project, which operates a Community Center in downtown Detroit, offers lunch four days a week, one-on-one social services, physical health counseling, empowerment-based programming, and emergency needs to help strengthen family support systems locally.

Presiding as guest speaker of the Yazaki ceremony was Nigel Thompson, Yazaki North America president and CEO. He said he was impressed by the diversity of the projects and volunteers.

“In the process of building up our community, we build up each other and leave a lasting impression on the world around us,” said Nigel. “The AVC Charity Challenge highlighted the many needs in our communities. You, the volunteers, took time out of your busy schedules to come together and really make a lasting impression by helping others and the environment. And for that, I thank you.”