Bay Area Sheet Metal & HVAC Contractor Association (SMACNA) Funds $350,000 Challenge Grant at Cal Poly

Market Wire, May, 2008

The Bay Area Chapter of the Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) Board of Directors voted unanimously to fund a challenge grant worth $350,000 for the Cal Poly Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC&R) program.

Through the end of next year (December 2009), Bay Area SMACNA will match gifts to Cal Poly's Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Education Endowment from any donor -- corporate, personal, non-profit or otherwise -- up to a total of $350,000 in matching contributions. As a result, a total of $700,000 could be raised for the endowment. The Cal Poly endowment is intended to fund the activities of the HVAC&R department as well as helping to underwrite the work-study "learn by doing" components of the curriculum.

Jesse Maddren, Professor, Mechanical Engineering Department California Polytechnic State University, states, "Donations from individuals and companies are now what make 'learn by doing' possible at Cal Poly. While the State provides the University with funds to teach the basics, additional support is essential to provide more in-depth opportunities for students. Bay Area SMACNA has taken a leadership role in this campaign to build our endowment and keep the Cal Poly HVAC&R tradition alive."

"Cal Poly is one of the leading academic institutions in the state of California for HVAC&R engineering studies. Bay Area SMACNA approved this challenge grant for Cal Poly because we wanted to inspire others in the industry to step up and support the growth of this important program," said Gary Schwenk, Executive Vice President of Bay Are SMACNA. "We've supported Cal Poly's program for many years now, but felt it was time to elevate the level of support and hope others will do the same."

"In the mechanical contracting segment of the construction industry we rely heavily on Cal Poly engineers," said Angie Simon, Cal Poly alumnae and Vice President of the Bay Area SMACNA Board of Directors. "We believe it is important to provide support for successful HVAC&R programs such as Cal Poly's because it is the education of these engineers that ensures our industry will continue to thrive."

Joseph Donahoo of Cal Poly's College of Engineering Advancement states, "The generous matching grant from the Bay Area Chapter of SMACNA helps us for two reasons -- it solidifies support for an important program (HVAC&R) and it motivates our alumni to make gifts that take advantage of the Bay Area SMACNA gift matching program." The Endowment received its first donation recently from John H. Wingate, Jr., a Cal Poly alumnus of the HVAC&R program. This $50,000 donation has been matched by Bay Area SMACNA for a total of $100,000.

Interested donors are encouraged to mail their contributions to Cal Poly Foundation, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407-0009 or contact calpolyfoundation@calpoly.edu for additional information.

About SMACNA

The Bay Area Chapter of the Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) works closely with the Sheet Metal Workers International Association (SMWIA) Local 104 to champion standards for quality and safety in sheet metal construction. The Bay Area SMACNA chapter is the largest in the country with 151 members, employing approximately 18,000 personnel.

Working together, sheet metal management and labor have more than a 100-year legacy of raising industry standards for construction quality and safety. By providing members with ongoing training and education, together they ensure the highest caliber, most cost-effective work product, using the most advanced technologies, energy efficient systems and innovative design. For more information please visit www.bayareasmacna.org .

For more information contact: Gary Schwenk Bay Area SMACNA 510.635.8212 Email Contact Media Contact: Cheryl Popp Popp Inc 415.331.4331 Email Contact