PPG commits to helping rebuild 50 libraries in Sichuan’s disaster area
Colorful libraries to enrich children’s lives
SICHUAN, China, Sept. 25, 2009 – PPG Industries (NYSE:PPG) today announced its support for the “PPG Care Library Project” in an inauguration ceremony held in Zitong county, Sichuan.
This project involves PPG helping to rebuild 50 libraries and donating more than 150,000 books to schools in this earthquake-stricken region through a partnership with the Beijing Red Cross Foundation. PPG also has provided environmentally-responsible coatings for interior decoration of these libraries. The total donation value will be about RMB 4.03 million in a combined contribution from PPG employees throughout the Asia/Pacific region, PPG Asia/Pacific and the PPG Industries Foundation.
PPG will ensure that students across Zitong county will have access to the libraries, which will aid the students in their studies, help to enrich their lives, and enable them to make positive contributions to the communities. PPG has been contributing to reconstruction in Sichuan since the earthquake struck in 2008.
Cathy Yan, general manager of government affairs and business development, PPG Asia/Pacific, said PPG employees are highly concerned about the disaster in Sichuan, and the company is engaging in talks about possibly increasing donations there. She also expressed PPG’s admiration of the Chinese people for their humanitarian care and great national spirit during the earthquake relief work.
"Culture and education flourished in Zitong, but thousands of children no longer have books to read after the earthquake disaster, limiting their horizons and possibly their futures," Yan said. "PPG hopes these libraries will help to improve the lives of children in Zitong."
The combined donation will help fund the rebuilding of 50 libraries, providing approximately 40,000 children from nursery schools to high schools with the benefit of access to these libraries in the future. The construction of 10 libraries has already been completed, and all 50 libraries will be completed by the end of 2009. Yan said, “PPG will not stop there, as the company also launched a PPG CSR Zitong Base today, with further plans to contribute to the local community in this region already in the pipeline.”
Mrs. Yang Bangqiong, the vice mayor of Zitong county, said, "The outpouring of concern from PPG employees in China expressing their strong desire to help in any way possible has been overwhelming. We also are deeply touched by the donation the company has provided to fund rebuilding of the impacted areas, and we sincerely appreciate PPG’s assistance to those who dearly need it. This is an experience for students in Zitong to learn from and enjoy."
PPG employees throughout the Asia/Pacific region have donated books and shared ideas for slogans to paint on the library walls and to print in the books. PPG encourages employees to volunteer in local schools to help enhance student development.
In addition to the "PPG Care Library Project," PPG has been assisting with the restoration of infrastructure in the affected areas since May 2008. The company donated RMB 500,000 to help purchase emergency equipment for the Sichuan region shortly after the disaster occurred, and it has been donating RMB 1 Yuan to recovery efforts in the disaster area for each can of Master’s Mark paint, IVY paint and Seigneurie paint sold in China since May 2008. Earlier this year, the PPG Industries Foundation donated $5,000 to the Pittsburgh Chinese School, which in turn purchased replacement books for those destroyed during the earthquake for the Pittsburgh Chunlei School in Guangyuan, Sichuan.
PPG regards recognition of the concerns and needs of society as a key corporate value. In 1951, PPG established the PPG Industries Foundation to improve the quality of life in communities where PPG has a presence and to encourage employee volunteerism and executive involvement with nonprofit organizations. The foundation’s strategic interests are education, human services, culture and arts, civic and community affairs, and health and safety.
About PPG
Pittsburgh-based PPG is a global supplier of paints, coatings, optical products, specialty materials, chemicals, glass and fiber glass. The company has more than 140 manufacturing facilities and equity affiliates and operates in more than 60 countries. Sales in 2008 were $15.8 billion. PPG shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: PPG). For more information, visit www.ppg.com.
IVY, Master’s Mark and Seigneurie are trademarks of PPG Industries.
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Contact:
Hunter Lee
PPG China
86 22 6620 6102
hunterlee@ppg.com
china.ppg.com |