Mumbai: A residential school for orphans and underprivileged children at Ratnagiri, around 185 kilometres from here, will be expanded by a corporate grant of $26,000 from U.S. based automotive interior and battery manufacturer Johnson Controls, it was announced here Wednesday.

The beneficiary, Sandipani Gurukul, shelters around 300 deprived children aged from 6-16 years and provides them with emotional support.

Sandipani Gurukul has already been a recipient of Johnson Controls' "Blue Sky Involve" programme, a global employee volunteer initiative that provides annual donations of workers' time and corporate funding to charitable organisations, said Pramoda Karkal, vice-president and managing director of Johnson Controls India.

"Our employees volunteer for the charities. Through their actions and offerings we promote achievement of 'triple bottom lines' to help protect the environment, enrich our social responsibilities, and economically benefits our customers, employees, stakeholders and society," Karkal said.

Sarwattom Thakur, chairman of the trust that runs the school, stressed the need for adequate infrastructure for the children, and said there was land there that could be turned into an organic farm adding to Sandipani Gurukul's infrastructure.

Johnson Controls will work with the school authorities to manage the long-term project and ensure its successful completion, using recyclable materials and contributions of all types from employees and sub-contractors.

This year, employees have already contributed 520 hours in various activities at the school.

Another major corporate involved with Sandipani Gurukul since the past 10 years is JP Morgan India. Its involvement is through financial grants and employee volunteerism, said Mahesh Aras, the company's vice-president of human resources.