ARA Foundation contributes $6,000 to Hurricane Sandy relief efforts
When the ARA Foundation board of trustees recently met at the American Rental Association (ARA) headquarters in Moline, Ill., it unanimously voted to donate a total of $6,000 — $3,000 each — to the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. These agencies are critical to the Hurricane Sandy relief efforts for residents in New York, New Jersey and the rest of the East Coast.
These agencies were chosen because “the trustees felt the immediate relief efforts of the American Red Cross and the longer-term assistance provided by the Salvation Army are vital to aiding residents impacted not only by the hurricane but also now the subsequent winter storm, or nor’easter,” said ARA Foundation Chairman Doron Broadfoot, president of The Rent-It Store, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
“The people in this region have suffered such devastating damage,” added Broadfoot. “We wanted to contribute to the relief efforts on a broad scale. We know that rental companies, which have a great deal of equipment in the area, are supporting the efforts of cities and municipalities. As the philanthropic arm of the equipment rental industry, we wanted to broaden that reach because we know that the recovery and rebuilding will take a considerable period of time.”
Foundation Vice Chairman Catherine DeBusk, CERP, vice president of Party People Rentals, Phoenix, Ariz., couldn’t agree more. “The current weather conditions will only complicate the recovery,” she said. “These agencies, as well as local organizations, are invaluable to the welfare of those living in the affected areas. We wanted to show our support for their efforts. A strong financial contribution to both the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army was our way of helping them assist those in need.”
This donation is just the latest disaster relief efforts offered by the ARA Foundation, noted Jenni Venema, ARA Foundation director of development. “Disaster relief and recovery efforts always have been a strong initiative of the ARA Foundation,” she said.
