2009-04-22 - Two Global Electric Motor Cars, and donations, total to $50,000, given to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida
ORLANDO, FLORIDA, April 21, 2009 –- As part of the concluding ceremonies of the ABB Automation & Power World 2009 event, held here March 24 - 26, attendees and the company gave back to a key charity that helps families and their ill children in communities across the country where ABB conducts business.
Donations to the Ronald McDonald House Charities included two Global Electric Motorcars (GEMs), along with a cash donation, all of which totalled to $50,000. Both cars already are in use at local facilities within the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida region. The cars, each fitted with three bench seats, are used to make transport of families from a house to the local, affiliated medical facility easy, while utilizing green power, to ensure the vehicles can be used for many years.
Cash donations to the charity, solicited from registrants to the event, along with cash donations made by volunteer participants in the Run ‘n Walk event for ABB employees on the eve of A&PW opening, added up to much of the cash donation. In addition, the ABB Foundation, which supports a host of charitable causes in support of communities ABB is based in, matched employees’ donations.
Giving Back
“It’s a pleasure to give back this way to a community that has been most gracious in hosting and supporting our employees, customers and prospects over the last decade,” said Rick Hepperla, Event Chairman, in presenting the check to Lou Ann DeVoogd, executive director of the charity. “We know that this kind of regional support mirrors the way our businesses and employees, and the foundation, are volunteering time and money in the more than 40 communities in which we conduct business around the U.S.”
With the cars put to work immediately following the show, DeVoogd wrote Hepperla recently to say, “Thank you so much for your generous gift. Our families and children love the GEM cars!”
This commitment to giving back will continue, noted managers and organizers of the event. Not only does it build esprit de corp among event participants, they noted, but attendees also report that the charities ABB supports at this national level provides ideas for what they can replicate in local communities. Event organizer Terry Jeffers said that “every year, we see interest, participation and donations increase.”
ABB Automation & Power World 2009 combined ABB’s two popular North American customer conferences into one single, unique event. The three-day meeting was a comprehensive users conference and exhibition that showcased ABB’s extensive automation and power offerings and expertise under one roof; it included more than 500 technical workshops and a massive 72,000 square-feet exhibit hall.
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