From time to time, an item appears on my desk that is deserving of a special "Thumbs Up" recognition.

Here's "Thumbs Up" to TG(U.S.A) Corp. and its participation in providing funding boosts to a number of Perry County organizations.

TG(U.S.A.), a Perryville manufacturer of parts for Toyota Motors and for domestic automakers, has donated $5,000 to eight different organizations in Perryville and Perry County for the sixth straight year.

The unsolicited $40,000 donations is the company's way of saying thanks for the community support, said Glenn N. Graham, vice president.

During the past five years, this is a $200,000 thank you that TG(U.S.A.) management says is insignificant compared to the community spirit and quality of life in Perryville.

That overall figure will grow to $240,000 this week, as TG(U.S.A.) called in the eight groups for the annual check presentations.

Organizations receiving checks Wednesday will be the Perry County Memorial Hospital, Riverside Regional Library, Perry County Sheriff's Department, Perryville Police Department, Perryville Fire Department, Perry County School District 32, Immanuel Lutheran School and St. Vincent Catholic School.

This year mark's the company's 12th anniversary in Perryville.

"Management attributes its rapid growth to the excellent work ethic of the people and their free enterprise spirit," said Graham. "It is management's hope that donating back to the community will help to demonstrate the benefit of the community and industry working together. We're pleased to be able to share our good fortune with the community.

TG(U.S.A) employs more than 1,400 people.

The $40,000 is just part of the financial payback to the community. The company also contributes about $60,000 a year for other special projects -- concerts, student exchanges and a number of other special events and projects.

When TG (U.S.A.) Corp. opened for business in Perryville Industrial Park, it produced plastic transmission gears for Ford Motor Co. and steering wheels for Chrysler Corp. The company and its small group of 27 workers operated out of a 48,000-square-foot building.

That was in February 1987.

Today, TG(U.S.A.) works out of more than 400,000 square feet of space, and the more than 1,400 employees produce hundreds of auto parts, including steering wheels, air-bag covers, speaker covers, auto side moldings and lots of little knobs and plastic covers.

The company makes parts for most auto manufacturing companies, including Toyota, Mazda, and the Big Three: Ford, GMC-Chevrolet and Chrysler.

The company, a subsidiary of the Toyoda Motor group formed to produce parts for the automotive industry in the United States.

TG (U.S.A.) was formed by Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd., a part of the Toyoda Group and Mitsui and Co., a leading trading company in Japan. TG(U.S.A.) was founded in April 1986, and in May 1987 the first Japanese-owned automotive plant opened at Perryville.

Toyoda Gosei started in Japan in 1949 as Nogoya Rubber Co. Ltd., which produced rubber parts for automobiles. In 1973, the company changed its name to Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd.

The Mitsui Co. was founded more than 100 years ago in 1876 and has offices throughout the world.

TG (U.S.A.) selected Perryville as the site for its first manufacturing facility after several visits to Missouri and other states. Glenn Graham is plant manager at Perryville.

Graham was the first American to be hired by Toyoda Gosei, when he became a part of the management team of TG(U.S.A.), during formation of the company. He helped oversee construction of the first plant. After joining TG(U.S.A.) he spent considerable time in Japan becoming familiar with Toyoda Gosei and its production and management systems.

More Thumbs Up,

"Beeper Buddies," a form of the designated-driver program will be available to fraternities and sororities on Southeast Missouri State University campus.

River Eagle Distributing, a distributor of Anheuser-Busch products in the area, will sponsor the "Beeper Buddies" program.

The program, says Gene Patterson, president of River Eagle Distributing, is designed to prevent drinking and driving by college students.

Pagers will be provided to the five fraternities and four sororities involved in the program. Pagers will be provided to a designated person (the Beeper Buddy) each Thursday, Friday and Saturday night.

The Beeper Buddies will not drink alcoholic beverages and be on call to serve as the "safe ride home" on their night with the pager.

If other members of the fraternity or sorority need the Beeper Buddy, they simply call the pager, for a ride home.

More than 85 million American adults have been a designated driver or have been driven home by one, and more than 90 percent of the American public endorses the designated-driver concept.

Anheuser-Busch's message on all college campuses is clear: "If you're 21 and older and choose to drink, please drink responsibility. If you're under 21, respect yourself and the law."

River Eagle will continue to fight against drunk driving by promoting responsible drinking messages, like "Know When to Say When," and by supporting the effective designated-driver programs like Beeper Buddies.

B. Ray Owen is business editor for the Southeast Missourian.