Press Releases
For Immediate Release
Laurie Steiner
IFMA
1-713-623-4362
Date Posted: Oct. 29, 2007
IFMA FOUNDATION AND GRAINGER: WORKING TOGETHER TO REBUILD NEW ORLEANS
The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) Foundation, a nonprofit aimed at promoting research and educational opportunities for the advancement of facility management, and Grainger (NYSE: GWW), North America’s leading distributor of facilities maintenance supplies to businesses and institutions, joined forces to help the New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD) get back on their feet. Hurricane Katrina rendered more than 20 of New Orleans’ 33 fire stations inoperable — many of these fire stations remain uninhabitable today, desperately in need of repair.
Following IFMA’s World Workplace 2007 Conference & Expo, the world’s premier educational and networking conference for facility managers, the IFMA Foundation held its Volunteer Rebuild Project benefiting the NOFD. On Saturday, Oct. 27, more than 130 volunteers spent the day cleaning, painting and repairing six local fire stations damaged by Katrina. To help kick off the project, the IFMA Foundation received immense support from Grainger, who made a $20,000 contribution to the Friends of the NOFD, a nonprofit arm of the NOFD, to help fund the Volunteer Rebuild Project.
“We are committed to ensuring a brighter future for the city of New Orleans,” said Dave Smetana, regional branch services vice president, Grainger. “Getting our local first responders back up and running is critical if we are to achieve this goal. We’ve been a proud member of this community for nearly 70 years. The Grainger team, along with our friends at the IFMA Foundation, are proud to help the New Orleans Fire Department get much needed assistance.”
“Our intentions had very humble beginnings,” said IFMA Foundation Executive Director Will Rub. “We were merely looking for an opportunity for our attendees to do their part to help New Orleans. We never anticipated that the enthusiasm would grow to the extent that it has. Grainger’s donation, along with all of our generous supporters, underscores the continued commitment that the facility management industry has to the rebuilding of the city.”
Bank of the West provided transportation, food and a monetary donation to the NOFD. Sebesta Blomberg and Associates and Allied Barton also contributed to this project.
For more information or to set up an interview, please contact IFMA’s Public Relations Specialist Laurie Steiner at 713-623-4362 or Grainger’s Regional Communications Director Michael McGrew at 847-224-9269.
About the IFMA Foundation Established in 1990 as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation and separate entity from the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), the IFMA Foundation works for the public good to promote priority research and educational opportunities for the advancement of facility management. The IFMA Foundation is supported by the generosity of the FM community, including IFMA members, chapters, councils, corporate sponsors and private contributors who are united by the belief that education and research improve the FM profession. The IFMA Foundation awards more than $70,000 in scholarships annually. To learn more about the good works of the IFMA Foundation, visit www.ifmafoundation.org. For more information about IFMA, visit www.ifma.org.
About Grainger W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE: GWW), with 2006 sales of $5.9 billion, is a leading broad line supplier of facilities maintenance products serving businesses and institutions in Canada, China, Mexico and the United States. Through a highly integrated network including nearly 600 branches, 18 distribution centers and multiple Web sites, Grainger's employees help customers get the job done, saving them time and money by having the right products to keep their facilities running. |
