ISA NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Jennifer Infantino
(919) 990-9287
jinfantino@isa.org

ISA Announces Hurricane Relief Fundraiser to Help Gulf Coast Recover from Storm

Research Triangle Park, NC (22 September 2008) – In response to the devastation left in the wake of Hurricane Ike, which hit the Gulf Coast states as a Category 2 storm on 13 September, ISA has announced a hurricane relief fundraising program to be held in conjunction with ISA EXPO, 14-16 October in Houston, Texas, at the Reliant Center. ISA also announced a pledge to match funds collected, up to $10,000, approved on Saturday by its executive committee.

ISA will collect financial donations throughout ISA EXPO 2008, and will dedicate Tuesday evening’s industry reception to the relief effort with a silent auction to raise money for the American Red Cross’ Hurricane Ike disaster relief fund. The Red Cross is providing shelter, food and emotional support to tens of thousands of residents, and with more than 200 shelters opened across several states, the Red Cross and its partners have provided more than 100,000 overnight stays to people affected by Hurricane Ike. The organization is also working to feed and provide mental health counseling to help both victims and emergency personnel.
 

“The Red Cross can’t do their important work without the support of the community -- our community. After all, these are our colleagues, our friends, our customers, and our suppliers, and we’ll support them and help them rebuild,” said ISA Executive Director and CEO Patrick Gouhin.
 

Individuals can donate by bringing cash or checks made out to the American Red Cross to ISA EXPO, 14-16 October, at the Reliant Center in Houston, Texas. Individuals can also bid on dozens of items at our silent auction, held during the industry reception at the Reliant Center on Tuesday, 14 October, 5:30 – 7 p.m.
 

Companies can donate in three key ways:
 

  1. Pledge to match the funds raised by ISA EXPO 2008 attendees. This is the most significant gift a company can give – to match a percentage of the generosity of the individuals attending ISA EXPO.
  2. Send a one-time donation to ISA, in the form of a check made out to the American Red Cross, to support the effort.
  3. Donate a $250+ valued gift to the silent auction. ISA is asking for consumer items, and logos are welcome to be on the donations.  
    Because of the critical time sensitivity of the disaster relief effort, ISA is asking companies to respond with their pledges of matching funds and silent auction gifts by the end of the week. ISA will accept one-time donations through the conclusion of ISA EXPO on October 16.
     

Several industry publications, including InTech magazine, Chem.Info, Chemical Engineering Progress, Chemical Week, Control Engineering, Gases and Instrumentation, Industrial Process Products and Technology, OG&PE, Oil and Gas Financial Journal, Oil and Gas Journal, Manufacturing Automation, petropages.com, Plant Engineering, Pumps and Systems, and others have agreed to place a full page ad or online ad recognizing the top corporate contributors for the program.
 

Additional details on donating, pledging advertising space, or providing silent auction items is available online at www.isa.org/hurricanerelief or by calling (919) 549-8411.
 

About ISA
 

Founded in 1945, ISA (www.isa.org) is a leading, global, nonprofit organization that is setting the standard for automation by helping over 30,000 worldwide members and other professionals solve difficult technical problems, while enhancing their leadership and personal career capabilities. Based in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, ISA develops standards; certifies industry professionals; provides education and training; publishes books and technical articles; and hosts the largest conference and exhibition for automation professionals in the Western Hemisphere. ISA is the founding sponsor of The Automation Federation (www.automationfederation.org).