Annual event has provided more than $1.4 million for scholarships
since 2003
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Ecolab Inc. helped raise more than $136,000 for the National Restaurant
Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) through a silent auction
during the 12th Annual Ecolab Chairman's Reception, held the
evening of May 18 in conjunction with the National Restaurant
Association (NRA) Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show in Chicago.
More than 900 foodservice operators and guests attended the event, which
supports the NRAEF ProStart® program. ProStart is a
nationwide, two-year high school program that unites the classroom and
industry to develop the best and brightest talent into tomorrow's
restaurant and foodservice leaders.
The money raised at the event will provide scholarships for students
seeking professions in the restaurant and foodservice industry.
"We are honored to host this annual event, which brings together so many
industry leaders to support the NRAEF ProStart program," said Ecolab
Chairman and CEO Douglas M. Baker, Jr. "Education and training are
critical to the continued vitality of the restaurant and foodservice
industry. The ProStart program and other NRAEF educational initiatives
help to ensure that today's talented young people become tomorrow's
industry leaders."
Mike Hickey, Ecolab executive vice president and president, Global
Institutional, who also is an NRA board member and vice chair of the
NRAEF board of trustees, presented Dawn Sweeney, president and CEO,
National Restaurant Association and NRAEF, and Michael Gibbons, chair,
NRAEF, with a check for $136,550 on behalf of Ecolab and event attendees.
"The Foundation's programs are shining a spotlight on the diverse and
rewarding career opportunities in the restaurant and foodservice
industry," said Sweeney. "On behalf of the nearly 100,000 ProStart
students and scholarship recipients served by the NRAEF, we are grateful
to Ecolab and their industry partners for their longtime and sustained
contributions to help feed dreams and build futures."
Over the last 12 years, Ecolab has helped raise more than $1.4 million
for NRAEF and the ProStart program through this annual event.
About the NRAEF
As the philanthropic foundation of the
National Restaurant Association, the NRAEF exists to enhance the
restaurant industry's service to the public through education, community
engagement and promotion of career opportunities. The NRAEF works to
attract, develop and retain a career-oriented professional workforce for
the restaurant industry. The restaurant and foodservice industry
comprises 980,000 restaurant and foodservice outlets and a workforce of
more than 13 million employees, making it one of the nation's largest
employers. For more information on the NRAEF, visit NRAEF.org.
About Ecolab
A trusted partner at more than one million
customer locations, Ecolab (ECL) is the global leader in water, hygiene
and energy technologies and services that protect people and vital
resources. With 2013 sales of $13 billion and 45,000 associates, Ecolab
delivers comprehensive solutions and on-site service to promote safe
food, maintain clean environments, optimize water and energy use and
improve operational efficiencies for customers in the food, healthcare,
energy, hospitality and industrial markets in more than 170 countries
around the world.
For more Ecolab news and information, visit www.ecolab.com.
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(ECL-C)
Ecolab Inc.
Roman Blahoski, 651-293-4385
MediaRelations@Ecolab.com
Source: Ecolab Inc.
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