Roman
Staff Run Up £800 for Cancer Charity
Staff
at Roman, the UK shower manufacturer,
have raised £800 after running the Race For Life in Darlington.
They joined thousands of runners battling temperatures of 24 degrees Celsius
in the town’s South Park, to raise money for Cancer Research UK.
The 16-strong team, including staff and some of their family and friends,
were led across the finishing line by marketing director Loraine Gamblin,
who completed the 5k course in an impressive time of 30 minutes.
This is just one of the many fund-raising efforts Roman staff will take
part in throughout the year. At the moment the company is holding money-raising
ventures with a World Cup theme, including sweepstakes and football shirt
wearing days.
All proceeds from the World Cup events will go towards the company’s
local branch of the Samaritans.
Marketing director, Loraine Gamblin, said: 'It was hard work in sweltering
heat but it was also very good fun. We are delighted to have raised so
much money and would like to thank everyone for being so generous.'
Whirlpool
Europe and Habitat for Humanity Lay the Foundations for a Better Future
Whirlpool
Corporation
profoundly believes in the principles of corporate social responsibility
(CSR). Around the world it pursues its business objectives in full respect
of ethical values, while contributing to improve the lives of people in
the communities where it resides.
The most important CSR project, among all the initiatives supported by
Whirlpool, is its partnership with Habitat for Humanity, the international
charity dedicated to eliminating poverty housing, helping underprivileged
families build a better future through access to adequate shelter.
The European partnership with Habitat for Humanity began in 2004, when
Whirlpool Corporation extended its collaboration across the Atlantic from
the United States, where it first started in 1999. On a global level,
since its inception, the campaign in support of Habitat for Humanity has
been immensely successful and has contributed to improving the lives of
thousands of families living in poverty conditions. Since the beginning
of the programme, Whirlpool Corporation has supported Habitat for Humanity
with an investment of over $25 million and donated 62,000 appliances,
contributing to the construction of over 6,000 homes every year.
In the first two years, from July 2004, Whirlpool Europe supported the
project with great enthusiasm, contributing to the construction of 299
homes in many different countries, including Albania, Northern Ireland,
the UK, Russia and the US. The objective for 2006 is a continued effort
to expand the number of building sites across Europe, and to create 150
new homes in Romania, Poland, Kyrgyzstan, Kurdistan, Slovakia and South
Africa. Every house built with Habitat for Humanity will be provided with
a complete set of Whirlpool appliances (cooking range, fridge and washer)
and will be sold to recipient families with no-profit, zero-interest mortgages.
‘The success of our expansion strategy is based on continuous investment
not only in our brands, innovation projects and production sites, but
also in our people and in the communities where we are situated across
Europe’ says Marc Bitzer, president of Whirlpool Europe. ‘We
are proud to support this important social cause though product donations
and though the direct involvement of our people. Let's hope that other
companies will emulate our commitment to improving the living conditions
of many a family needing adequate shelter.’
Whirlpool's decision to defend the right to a decent and adequate home
was based on its sharing of Habitat for Humanity's principles of respect,
trust, inclusion and team work. Through this partnership, Whirlpool reinforces
its vision of being in every home, everywhere, with pride, passion and
performance: the pride of belonging to a community and of offering everyone
an adequate and decent home; the passion in doing the right thing, donating
appliances that will improve everyday life; the performance of those committed
to making a difference.
‘Supporting those in our communities who need help is an important
testimony of Whirlpool values’, says Giuseppe Perucchetti, vice president
Brand Marketing, Whirlpool Europe. ‘We firmly believe that today's
CSR actions will produce important benefits tomorrow. Our consumers will
feel satisfied by our commitment to local communities and to future generations,
and this will generate even greater respect and trust in the Whirlpool
brand.’
Whirlpool promotes the cause of Habitat for Humanity not only though financial
contributions and product donation, but also through the personal and
voluntary involvement of its employees, who actively participate in building
activities. In Europe, in the first two years of partnership, 120 Whirlpool
volunteers participated in the scheme, dedicating over 200 working days.
Houses are built with the help of the local community and the homeowner
families, further promoting social development and strengthening bonds
within communities.
‘Although Habitat for Humanity is a prestigious and very well-known
charity in the US, it is still relatively young and little known in Europe’,
says Don Hascyn, Europe and Central Asia Region Leader, Habitat for Humanity.
‘The partnership with Whirlpool Europe allows us not only to improve
the quality of life of thousands living in poverty conditions, but it
helps to create awareness about our organisation in Europe, expanding
the numbers of those supporting us and linking Habitat for Humanity with
the prestige and the credibility of a brand such as Whirlpool’.
Every house built through Habitat for Humanity is more than just a home.
It represents a concrete hope for happiness and for a better future, It
represents security and decent, adequate living conditions. It represents
the dream of offering one's children a better life and better opportunities.
Whirlpool Europe and WTA: Fund Raising on Court
Whirlpool Europe also supports Habitat for Humanity through its sponsorship
of the WTA tour, the world's main professional female tennis circuit.
Habitat for Humanity is the social cause adopted by the WTA and by three
of the world's top players : Amélie Mauresmo, Nadia Petrova and
Mary Pierce are all ambassadors for Habitat for Humanity in Europe and
promote the organisation's objectives and values throughout Europe.
In June 2005, Whirlpool Europe and the WTA Tour launched the ‘Aces
for Homes’ programme, with the objective of collecting funds to give
homes to victims of the December 26 2004 Tsunami. For every ‘ace’
scored by the players during the tournaments, 10 euros are donated to
support reconstruction programmes in India. So far 60,000 Euros have been
collected, and have been used to reconstruct the village of Villa Puram,
where 18 families received a new home.
Whirlpool Europe also created a cook book, called ‘Love Food’,
presenting the WTA tennis star celebrities' favourite recipes. The book
is being sold across Europe at tournament venues and the funds raised
are donated to Habitat for Humanity. So far the initiative has raised
13,300 euros.
About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International is a Christian ministry dedicated to
eliminating poverty housing, believing that all the people have the right
to adequate shelter. Founded in 1976 by Millard Fuller, along with his
wife Linda, Habitat for Humanity International and its affiliates in more
than 3,000 communities in 92 nations have built and sold more than 200,000
homes to partner families with no-profit, zero-interest mortgages.
Since its founding, Habitat for Humanity has become a global leader in
addressing poverty housing by helping more than 750,000 people of all
races, faiths and backgrounds to have a simple, decent place to live.
Through volunteer labour and donations of money and materials, Habitat
for Humanity builds and renovates homes with the help of homeowner families.
For more information, visit http://www.habitat.org
About
Whirlpool Corporation
Whirlpool Corporation is a global manufacturer and marketer of major home
appliances, with annual sales of more than $14.3 billion, 68,000 employees
and nearly 50 manufacturing and technology research centres around the
globe. The company markets Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Brastemp, Bauknecht,
Consul and other major brand names to consumers in more than 170 countries.
Additional information about the company can be found at http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com
Topps
Tiles
is an active fundraiser for Asthma UK, a charity dedicated to improving
the health and well-being of the 5.2 million people in the UK with asthma.
‘We adopted Asthma UK in 2000 and aim to take our total to £500,000
by the end of 2006,’ says the company.
Money raised will fund Asthma UK grants to Primary Care Trusts in regions
hardest hit by asthma. It will be used to improve local asthma services
and reach into communities to help those individuals whose asthma is not
under control.
The charity's work with Primary Care Trusts is essential to help reduce
the 70,000 hospital admissions for asthma in the UK every year. 75% of
these can be avoided and 90% of deaths can be prevented with the right
healthcare and advice.
'Please make a donation when you next visit Topps Tiles.'
Maytag
and Sears Bring the Cold to the South - More than 700 new Refrigerators
go to Hurricane Katrina Victims
Maytag
Corporation
and Sears Holdings Corporation are together donating more than 700 new
refrigerators worth nearly $800,000 to Hurricane Katrina victims in an
effort to help those affected replace appliances damaged in the storm.
Maytag Corporation manufactured the Kenmore branded refrigerators. Sears
has agreed to honour the full warranty on the side-by-side refrigerators.
‘Sears is committed to helping America outfit and maintain their
homes. Because it operates 24-hours a day, seven days a week, a high quality
refrigerator is central to the day-to-day operation of a family's kitchen,’
said Tina Settecase, vice president and general manager of home appliances
for Sears, Roebuck and Co. ‘We're pleased to be part of this effort.’
The units are being donated through Gifts in Kind International, a 501(c)(3)
tax-exempt organisation that partners with businesses and nonprofit groups
to provide products and services that help improve communities.
As many Louisiana residents struggle to rebuild their lives and homes,
thousands of people have lived for months without the ability to keep
food refrigerated and are faced with replacing some or all of their appliances.
In a recent Harris Interactive survey, 89 percent of the respondents across
the United States said their refrigerator is one household appliance they
couldn't live without.(1)
‘With ongoing rebuilding efforts, there continues to be so many people
in need of working appliances,’ said Kat Ortego, director of community
resources, with the St. Landry-Evangeline United Way Hurricane Relief
Center. ‘We're thrilled to be distributing brand new refrigerators
to them while there is still so much need.’
The 26-cubic-feet-capacity units worth more than $1,000 each are being
shipped from Iowa to more than 10 United Way groups in Louisiana who will
oversee distribution of the appliances.
‘We are thrilled to be part of this effort to help Hurricane Katrina
victims replace their much-needed appliances. We hope these new refrigerators
will restore some normalcy to their lives,’ said Annette Bravard,
senior vice president of marketing, Maytag Corporation. ‘We're proud
to partner with Gifts in Kind International and United Way to distribute
the appliances and to work with Sears to provide the warranties on these
new refrigerators.’
Roman
Raises £6000 for Tsunami Victims
Roman
Ltd,
the UK shower manufacturer, has raised over £6000 for the victims
of the Asian Tsunami disaster.
Over the past ten months the County Durham-based company has held a series
of fundraising events, to send cash to help rebuild a children’s
orphanage in Sri Lanka.
In December last year, the huge tidal wave devastated the North East coastal
town of Mulliativu, leaving 73 girls without a roof over their heads,
no fresh drinking water and sleeping two to a mat.
Left
to right: Roman staff with Assembly operator Alison Williams, marketing
director, David Osborne, children's home fundraiser Juliet Mariathasun,
and Roman's managing director Gerry Osborne, holding the cheque.
The
plight of the children’s home was brought to Roman’s attention
by Aloy and Juliet Mariathasun, Sri Lankan nationals who settled in Darlington
in the early 1970’s.
Fundraising efforts have included Roman staff completing the Three Peaks
Challenge, which involved climbing Britain’s three highest peaks
in 36 hours, and taking part in the Great North Run.
In the latest charity event, over £600 was raised from a quiz, followed
by a Karaoke competition and raffles. Roman’s packaging supplier
Smurfit donated £100 towards this total.
Roman’s operations director, and quiz organiser, John Wright, said:
'Everyone had a fantastic night and we are delighted to be able to send
some more money to help these orphans rebuild their lives. The funds will
help complete a new kitchen, classroom and bedrooms, where the children
can live and learn under the guidance of the nuns that care for them.'
Aloy Mariathasun, said: 'We would like to thank everyone at Roman for
raising so much money for the orphanage. It will make a massive difference
to the quality of life of these children.'
Roman started fundraising for different charities in 2004, and since then
has raised around £15,000 for charity.