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Plumbing Industry Shows It's 'Stars and Stripes' in Wake of Sept. 11 Tragedy

For Immediate Release

November 01, 2001

Contact: Barbara C. Higgens, Executive Director (847) 884-9764

Schaumburg, Ill.— A recent poll conducted by the Plumbing Manufacturers Institute (PMI) of its membership reveals a strong wave of patriotism and an industry-wide mobilization to assist rescue and relief efforts in the wake of attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on Sept. 11.

PMI surveyed its members as part of a special commemorative section of its quarterly newsletter, PMI News. Executive Director Barbara C. Higgens says, "We were interested in how plumbing manufacturers were able to assist rescuers or raise money toward the relief efforts, and we wanted our membership's efforts to be recognized." She says she was "delighted and heartened" by the breadth and variety of responses received from members. "What began as simply an exercise in information gathering for our newsletter quickly blossomed into a wonderful demonstration of our industry's outpouring of support and patriotism. We are truly grateful to have such giving members in our Institute."

Among the submissions received from PMI members:

  • Elkay Manufacturing decided to cancel their traditional "Evening in the Park" customer reception held during the ASA Convention. The funds that would have been spent on the event will be doubled and will be contributed to several organizations supporting the nation's recovery from the Sept. 11 event.
  • Whirlpool Corporation's Whirlpool Foundation is matching all employee donations dollar for dollar, and donations are being channeled to the relief effort via the American Red Cross.
  • Kohler Co. held an observance of silence on Sept. 14 and are matching dollar for dollar in employee contributions up to $10,000. Kohler Rental Power provided generators and lighting equipment for emergency medical facilities set up in New Jersey. In addition, hundreds of people from Kohler quickly assembled a mobile shower unit in an 18-wheel tractor trailer and drove it to the rescuers and volunteers.
  • The Chicago Faucet Company raised about $8,000 in employee and company contributions to the Chicago Remembers Fund. A blood drive is being arranged by the Red Cross for the company, at a date to be determined. A company-wide moment of silence was also observed on Sept. 14.
  • Moen Incorporated's parent company, Fortune Brands, donated $500,000 to the Sept. 11th Fund created by the United Way and New York Trust.
  • Water Pik Technologies is matching dollar for dollar donations of its employees to the Red Cross for the relief funds. There was also a company-wide moment of silence observed on Sept. 14. Company employees have participated in blood drives and have displayed flags at work areas.
  • Sloan Valve Company set up a Red Cross donation box for employees to use for contributions to the disaster effort. Sloan will match each dollar contributed with $10 of company funds.
  • Haws Corporation shipped out several portable eyewash stations for recovery crews (crews were using bottled water to flush their eyes). The company also participated in the Sept. 22 American Heart Association's "Heart Walk 2001", of which the first $250,000 raised was donated to relief efforts.
  • Price Pfister's parent company, Black & Decker, donated a substantial number of lighting products to the rescue/relief effort and will also donate $100,000 to the United Way Sept. 11th Fund. The company will match employee donations to the Fund, and there was also a company-wide moment of silence observed on Sept. 14.
  • Interbath Inc. held a company-wide prayer vigil on Sept. 14, as prayers were said in English and Spanish (Interbath employees come from 28 countries). Employees donated blood and the company is holding a day of contributions to the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army.
  • Speakman Company held a drive to provide financial support to the disaster relief efforts. The company's Safety Products Division donated and delivered portable eyewashes and saline solution concentrate directly to the relief contingent in Manhattan and Washington, D.C. Local sales representatives have been onsite in New York helping to offer rescue workers emergency response solutions. Speakman has also responded to distributor and rescue worker inquiries for product requirements by developing a portable solution for plumbed deluge showers at the disaster sites. The company has configured a deluge shower that is fastened to a movable plywood platform and is supplied by water from fire hoses.

The Plumbing Manufacturers Institute is the voluntary, not-for-profit national trade association of manufacturers of plumbing products. Member companies of PMI produce a substantial quantity of the nation's plumbing products. For more information on PMI or its semiannual meetings, contact the Institute at 1340 Remington Road, Suite A, Schaumburg, Ill., 60173; or via phone (847) 884-9PMI (9764), facsimile (847) 884-9775, or website www.pmihome.org