Volunteer Facility Managers, Donors Aid NOFD
The International Facility Management Association Foundation and Grainger joined forces over the weekend to help the New Orleans Fire Department in its ongoing recovery from Hurricane Katrina, which damaged more than 20 of the city's 33 fire stations. Many of them still desperately need repair, according to IFMA, which held its World Workplace 2007 Conference & Expo Oct. 24-26 at the Morial Convention Center in downtown New Orleans.
After the conference, the foundation held its Volunteer Rebuild Project benefiting the NOFD on Oct. 27. More than 130 volunteers spent the day cleaning, painting, and repairing six local fire stations. Grainger made a $20,000 contribution to the Friends of the NOFD, a nonprofit arm of the NOFD, to help fund the Volunteer Rebuild Project. "We are committed to ensuring a brighter future for the city of New Orleans," said Dave Smetana, regional branch services vice president for Grainger. "Getting our local first responders back up and running is critical if we are to achieve this goal. We’ve been a proud member of this community for nearly 70 years. The Grainger team, along with our friends at the IFMA Foundation, are proud to help the New Orleans Fire Department get much-needed assistance."
"Our intentions had very humble beginnings," said IFMA Foundation Executive Director Will Rub. "We were merely looking for an opportunity for our attendees to do their part to help New Orleans. We never anticipated that the enthusiasm would grow to the extent that it has. Grainger's donation, along with all of our generous supporters, underscores the continued commitment that the facility management industry has to the rebuilding of the city."
Bank of the West provided transportation, food, and a monetary donation to the NOFD. Sebesta Blomberg and Associates and Allied Barton also contributed to the project. For more information, visit www.ifmafoundation.org.