| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Contact: Jeremy Ahto / David Schulte
Healy Communications
312/440-3900
jahto@healyco.com |
SmithBucklin Donates More Than $51,000 to Victims of Hurricane Katrina
CHICAGO - November 4, 2005 – SmithBucklin, the world's largest association management company, announced that the company and its employees have made a contribution of $51,194.00 to the American Red Cross in support of relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Katrina. The American Red Cross continues to deploy volunteers to the areas hardest hit by Katrina, supplying hundreds of thousands of victims left homeless with critical necessities such as food, water, shelter, counseling and other assistance.
"Our entire company was deeply moved by the suffering caused by Hurricane Katrina, and many of our associates have professional contacts and friends in the Gulf Coast region's convention, hospitality and tourism industries who were affected," said Henry S. Givray, President and CEO of SmithBucklin. "We hope that our contributions will help the American Red Cross continue to provide vital aid to all those affected by this natural disaster. Our hearts and prayers are with the victims, as well as the brave volunteers who continue to help them."
A Web site created by SmithBucklin and the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago enabled employees to make individual donations to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. All donations made through the Web site were then matched dollar-for-dollar by SmithBucklin. In addition to matching all employee funds raised, SmithBucklin also donated $10,000 to the final amount.
"The American Red Cross is indebted to the American public and corporations such as SmithBucklin, which have led unprecedented employee fundraising drives on behalf of the nearly one million people displaced and devastated by recent hurricanes," said Francesca Maher, CEO of the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago. "The gifts made will support storm victims for years to come. We could not accomplish this without financial support of the employees at SmithBucklin and other firms across the country."
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About The William E. Smith Institute for Association Research
The William E. Smith Institute for Association Research was established by SmithBucklin to fund new practice-based research that is delivered to the association community free of charge. The mission of the Institute is to provide the latest, most useful information and insights to volunteer and staff leaders on topics, issues and trends that help advance the growth of associations and enhance the value delivered to the constituencies they serve. As evidence of its commitment to the association management field, SmithBucklin provides both human and financial resources to manage the work of the Institute. The Institute reflects SmithBucklin's philosophy of giving back to the association community, and provides a meaningful way to honor its founder, Bill Smith. For more information, please visit www.smithinstitute.org.
About SmithBucklin
SmithBucklin is the world's largest association management and professional services company providing flexible, tailored full-service management and function/project-specific services to more than 210 trade associations, professional societies, technology user groups and government institutes/agencies. SmithBucklin's mission is to drive growth and build sustained competitiveness for client organizations. Founded in 1949, the company employs 630 professionals specializing in all phases of association activity, including executive management, member and chapter administration, convention and trade show management, marketing and branding, Web services, education and programs, government relations and financial management. SmithBucklin manages more than $200 million in annual client budgets from offices in Chicago, Washington, DC, St. Louis and Durham, NC. For more information, please visit www.smithbucklin.com or call 1.800.539.9740.
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