September 20, 2001
BOSTON, September 20, 2001 - New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. announced today that it is donating one million dollars to The Twin Towers Fund in New York. The Fund has been established for fallen city rescue workers, and victims of the attack and their families.
In addition, the New Balance Foundation will match all contributions made by employees who wish to support relief efforts. New Balance has a strong relationship with the American Red Cross and will donate funds from the match to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.
"We feel very fortunate that all members of our New Balance family are safe and unharmed. This is our small way of helping to make a difference," said Jim Davis, Chairman and CEO, New Balance.
The company was also in a position to ship more than ,000 worth of product to rescue and relief workers in the days immediately following the attack. Working with AmeriCares, the company's Dunham Bootmakers brand supplied more than 500 pairs of steel toe boots for men and women. From the New Balance brand, men's and women's outdoor footwear, waterproof jackets, tee shirts and more than 8000 pairs of socks made their way to the AmeriCares warehouse and then on to New York.
Davis added, "The heroism, commitment and selflessness demonstrated by firefighters, police and volunteers are a shining example of a united America -- an America that was sorely underestimated by the perpetrators of these cowardly acts. Our thoughts and our prayers go out to those directly impacted by this horrific tragedy. God Bless America."
The Twin Towers Fund was established by New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani to directly assist the families of the members of the uniformed services of the New York City Fire Department and its Emergency Medical Services Command, the New York City Police Department, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the New York State Office of Court Administration and other government offices who lost their lives or were injured because of the tragedies of September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center in New York City. The Fund is being coordinated by New York City Public/Private Initiatives, Inc., a City Hall-based organization that has funded such programs as Project Smart Schools.
