December 28, 2005 — The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has contributed $100,000 to support hurricane relief efforts, assisting agricultural and construction industry workers affected by the Gulf Coast hurricanes. AEM has made donations of $25,000 each to the relief-related funding initiatives of the American Farm Bureau (AFB), Associated Equipment Distributors (AED), Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and North American Equipment Dealers Association (NAEDA).
"Recovery is a long-term process, and our fund selection helps ensure that our industry's workers receive our support so they can rebuild their lives and the communities in which they reside or work,” said 2005 AEM Chairman Charles Stamp, vice president Public Affairs of Deere and Company, Moline, Ill.
The AFB fund helps farm and ranch families or their rural communities affected by the Gulf Coast hurricane destruction. AED instituted a matching-fund program for contributions to the American Red Cross and Salvation Army hurricane relief funds. The AGC initiative provides financial assistance to construction workers in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi adversely affected by Hurricane Katrina. The NAEDA Equipment Dealers Foundation (EDF) Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund issues grants to help offset financial demands of Gulf Coast region dealers and their employees affected by the hurricane destruction.
