ABC Sets Up National Relief Fund in Wake of National Tragedy; Member Firm Awarded Contract to Rebuild Pentagon
Associated Builders and Contractors, Washington, D.C., recently took an active role in responding to the national tragedies in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania by establishing a special disaster relief fund to support families of the victims in the recent terrorist attacks.
"Our hearts go out to the families of victims of this tragedy in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. We have heeded the call of President Bush and have established this fund to help families of victims of these terrorist attacks,” said ABC President and CEO Kirk Pickerel. “Our national office is located near the Pentagon where many of those who died were young men and women in the Army and Navy whose lives ended while fulfilling their mission to defend our freedoms. We want to provide our members with a way to help the victims of this national tragedy."
ABC's national headquarters has donated $5,000 to the fund, and has solicited contributions from the association's 23,000 members through its electronic newsletter, Newsline, and on its Web site. Staff members at the national office have also made additional contributions.
"ABC members and the million craft professionals they employ share the horror, disbelief, and anger that every American feels at the cowardly attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon by those who would spread their message of hatred by unspeakable acts of evil,” said ABC Chairman Henry Kelly. “We as contractors build the future, and we take special umbrage at those who would destroy it, but we can be proud of the role our industry is playing in helping our nation recover from this tragedy,"
According to ABC, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently contacted the organization and may request disaster cleanup assistance. ABC has ensured the Army Corps that the association is ready to assist. A Federal Emergency Management Agency Project Impact partner, ABC has also offered assistance to FEMA Director Joe Allbaugh and pledged "unconditional assistance to the federal government to aid in any way possible."
On the recovery front, ABC member-firm Hensel-Phelps Construction Co., Chantilly, Va., has been awarded the contract to rebuild the portion of the Pentagon damaged by the terrorist attack. The work, which will include renovations of some four million square feet of building space over 11 years, could be valued at $758 million.
"Hensel-Phelps was one of the contractors on the scene when the plane hit the Pentagon last week and helped in the evacuation of the facility. It is now a time for rebuilding and healing. We're delighted that ABC member-firm Hensel-Phelps has been awarded the contract to rebuild this important symbol of American strength," said Pickerel.
For more information on ABC’s response to this national tragedy, visit: www.abc.org.
Siemens Donates $2 Million to Disaster Relief Fund
As the world continues to watch New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania pick up the pieces from the recent terrorist attacks, members of the Siemens operating companies worldwide are providing people, supplies, technological resources, and monetary donations to the ongoing relief effort.
Dr. Heinrich v. Pierer, president and chief executive officer of the parent company Siemens AG, headquartered in Munich, Germany, recently announced the company has pledged $2 million to support emergency assistance agencies in New York and Washington through the Siemens Caring Hands Foundation. In addition, the company will match contributions worldwide from among its 460,000 employees in 193 countries.
In a recent correspondence to all staff members, Pierer offered prayers and sympathy for the innocent people, families, and rescue workers who have been touched by the evil acts and told employees of the company’s plans to help in wake of the tragic events. He explained the money from the Foundation will be given to “The September 11th Fund,” a non-profit organization set up to ensure that financial resources are deployed effectively to emergency assistance and health and human services agencies in New York and Washington. This organization is jointly administered by The United Way and The New York Community Trust.
“My sincere belief is that together, we will make a difference during this difficult time,” said Pierer.
ABB Contributes $100,000 to American Red Cross Fund
ABB Inc., the U.S. arm of global technology company ABB based in Norwalk, Conn., recently pledged $100,000 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund in light of the recent terrorist attacks and devastation in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. The company also plans to match (two dollars to every dollar) any additional employee contributions made to the fund.
"We were very fortunate that no ABB employees were directly injured in last week's horrible attacks," said Donald P. Aiken, president of ABB Inc. "But that makes it all the more important that we do what we can to help rebuild in the aftermath of this tragedy."
For more information, visit www.abb.com.
Fluke Networks Helps Restore Network Communications to Disaster Areas
Fluke Networks, Inc., part of the Danaher family of companies based in Everett, Wash., recently initiated an Emergency Relief Program aimed at helping restore communications service to companies and organizations affected by the recent terrorist attacks. This includes offering loaner equipment, support, and on-site technical assistance to IT and telecom managers in need.
“Network communications, whether it is email or some other form of data communications, is the backbone of any organization,” said Chris Odell, president of Fluke Networks. “And we of course realize that many organizations have suffered substantial network service disruption owing to the tragic events of this past week. To assist in re-establishing damaged network infrastructure, Fluke Networks will provide loaner equipment, technical expertise, expedited delivery and on-site assistance until service is restored to those affected networks. It’s our small way of helping out in a time of great need.”
Any network manager in need of assistance should e-mail requests to [email protected]. A Fluke Networks representative will contact them as soon as possible to determine what is needed, and coordinate delivery of that support. The company already has expedited the shipment of products to major institutions in the New York area based on urgent requests from IT managers.
For more information, visit www.flukenetworks.com.
Siemens' Race Car to Promote Disaster Relief on the Track
The #93 Amoco-Siemens racing team, High Point, N.C., will replace its hood and rear deck logos with symbols of the American Red Cross and the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) for Sunday’s NASCAR Winston Cup Series race at Dover Downs International Speedway. The American Red Cross logo will replace Amoco Ultimate branding on the hood, accompanied by contact information (1-800-HELP-NOW or 1-800-435-7669). In addition, the official shield of the Fire Department of New York will replace Siemens deck-lid signage on the #93 Dave Blaney Dodge. Siemens, the team's major associate sponsor, joined Amoco in waiving its space on the car for this weekend's race.
Driver Blaney and team owner Bill Davis will join other NASCAR teams in generating additional funds in a lap-to-lap fund-raising program. Amoco, Siemens, Davis, and Blaney will each contribute $10 per-lap for every lap Blaney runs during the 400-lap race, totaling as much $16,000 for the Disaster Relief Fund of the American Red Cross. Last week BP/Amoco announced $5 million in corporate contributions to help victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center.
Sam Pardon, an over-the-wall crew member for the #22 car of Ward Burton and a key member of the fabrication shop at Bill Davis Racing, has spent the week in New York at the World Trade Center (WTC) site, volunteering his metal-work expertise to the massive rescue effort in conjunction with Lincoln Electric, a leading producer of welding machinery and a Bill Davis Racing partner.
Jonathan Murath, an active New York City firefighter, was pivotal in Siemens' effort to secure the opportunity to display the FDNY shields on the deck-lid of the #93 Dodge. Murath, currently serving at the WTC site on a 24-hour on-off rotation, is a member of the "Fire Factory" firehouse in Harlem, Engine 58, Ladder 26, located at 115th Street and 5th Avenue in New York. Murath's group has suffered losses in the aftermath of the WTC attack but continues to contribute tirelessly alongside firefighters from throughout New York and the region.
To see a photo of the car, click here.
Caterpillar Aids Cleanup Efforts in New York City
Caterpillar customers, employees, and dealers continue to join together to support New York City’s rescue efforts, providing people, power, and products as needed.
As of Sept. 14, Caterpillar’s New York dealer, H.O. Penn Machinery, had 40 technicians on site, 65 on standby, and 14 people on logistical support. Two other dealers, Foley (New Jersey) and Southworth-Milton (Massachusetts) assisted with recovery efforts, sending in 10 crews of technicians to help H.O. Penn. Technicians worked around the clock installing and operating generator sets and supporting both engines and machines.
Through H.O. Penn, Caterpillar, headquartered in Peoria, Ill., is supplying the vast majority of stand-by power to New York City’s financial, insurance, and banking districts as well as providing Con Edison with temporary power and technical assistance to stabilize the power grid in lower Manhattan. The company also donated three 30kW generator sets to the American Red Cross for food kitchens set up for relief workers.
First on site with the New York Police Department at the disaster scene, H.O. Penn set up 50 light towers and 12 small generator sets on the first night of the tragedy. Since that time, it has supplied more than 70MW of temporary electric power (enough to power 35,000 homes) in emergency service and installed more than 16 miles of cable, with 10 more miles on the way. Additionally, H.O. Penn has more than 250MW of permanently installed power in south Manhattan. In addition to the Caterpillar specialized demolition products shipped to the area, there are numerous other excavators on site, including models M320, 345, 330, 320, 330BL, 350, and 375, along with wheel loader models 950G and 966G.
In response to the extensive need for demolition attachments such as shears, grapples, multi-processors, and multi-purpose buckets, Caterpillar is supplying as many work tools as possible. Two truckloads of work tools left Wamego, Kan., the week of the disaster with two to three additional trucks leaving the following week. As a show of pride, Cat Work Tools and Services employees joined together to paint some multi-purpose buckets for wheel loaders in red, white, and blue.
Caterpillar’s Product Support Division also donated 1,000 hard hats and 2,000 work gloves to relief workers, while Caterpillar global footwear licensee Wolverine World Wide Inc. donated a total of 2,125 steel-toe work boots.
These efforts reinforce Caterpillar Chairman Glen Barton’s recent statement: “The men and women of Caterpillar have joined forces with our dealers and are assisting in the disaster response. Cat machines and power generation products are now on site where needed and will continue to support the relief effort. Our support is with the President as he guides the United States.”
