Praxair donates $20,000 to United Way

GROVES, Oct 08, 2008 (The Port Arthur News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- PX | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Officials at Praxair understand the struggle many people are going through since Hurricane Ike.

Clyde Howard, plant manager for Groves/El Paso, said his son lives in Bridge City. The coastal town was nearly destroyed from Ike's flood waters. Two other Praxair employees also live in Bridge City and lost their homes as well.

David LeMaire, loan executive with Chevron Phillips and a United Way campaign worker, said he knows of two other loan executives who lost their homes, one in Bridge City and another who lives at the beach.

On Tuesday, Rommel Oates, on-site business manager for Praxair Southern Region, presented United Way of South Jefferson County with a check for $20,000.

The company, he said, has had a long time partnership with United Way and has adopted families at Christmas, brought in food and helped with Toys for Tots.

"We value our people and Praxair cares about the community," he said.

Carol Hebert, executive director of United Way of South Jefferson County, was excited about the donation.

The organization usually holds a fund raising campaign from August through November with this year's goal set at $1.10 million. She said even though the area was hard hit by the hurricane, the goal is still the same. The campaign will likely be extended through the end of the year.

United Way is an umbrella organization that funds 20 agencies with the annual drive and four through special grants. Many of the organizations, which help those in need, rely on United Way for funding.

"These 20 agencies look to us for their everyday needs," she said. "Our biggest fear right now is the long term effect on the agencies serving the community."

Hebert explained there are three stages in needs: Immediate relief, short term response and long term recovery. Immediate relief effcorts come within the first few weeks, after the storm and the United Way invests in first responders like the American Red Cross and Salvation Army that were assisting our community immediately after the storm. Currently the area is fits in the short term phase category and with many agencies helping those hardest hit by the hurricane the agencies must also look to the year ahead.

In the short term phase, United Way is providing the best information to those in need through referrals to area organizations, Hebert said. United Way and its partner agencies are still assisting Hurricane Rita victims, three years since the storm.

To make a donation to United Way of South Jefferson County, call the organization at 985-5533.

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