DAVENPORT, Iowa (February 3, 2012) - Republic, a distributor of the Luxaire® brand of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment from Johnson Controls, teamed up with businesses in the Davenport, Iowa, area to help raise $2,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Iowa during the city’s third annual Make-A-Wish® Walk For Wishes event.
This year, Luxaire is celebrating a “Decade of Wishes Come True” with the Foundation. Since 2001, Luxaire has sponsored the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and through its network of heating and air conditioning dealers and distributors, has donated more than $2.4 million, which is enough to grant nearly 330 wishes.
For the first time, the Walk For Wishes event in Davenport, which was held at Modern Woodman Park, also included a 5K run. Republic employees, customers, families and friends raised funds and volunteered at the event.
To honor Republic’s 95th anniversary this year, employees also contributed to the Make-A-Wish Foundation through payroll deduction, with all contributions being fully matched by the company. As a result, $8,100 will be contributed to help grant wishes. These funds, when added to the contributions made by Luxaire on behalf of Republic and its Luxaire dealer network, resulted in $15,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Iowa, which will allow the company to fund three wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions in the region.
“One of our employees has a son who received a wish from the organization,” said Jill Larkin, director of marketing for Republic. “Once we teamed up with Luxaire, we embraced the opportunity to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation. We’re hoping to work with our dealer base to host a golf tournament next summer that will benefit the organization by raising additional dollars.”
“We’re incredibly grateful to Republic, who volunteered at the event and helped make it such a success,” said Carol TeBockhorst, field director of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Iowa. “Corporate sponsors like Republic and Luxaire help us fulfill wishes for children and their families who have been affected by life-threatening medical conditions.”
The Walk For Wishes event, along with seven other walk events held across Iowa this fall, raised more than $50,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Iowa, which granted 185 wishes to children in 2011.
“Luxaire dealers and distributors throughout the country are proud to raise funds for such an important organization,” said Mary Mocarski, Luxaire brand manager. “These events benefit deserving children and their families, and also strengthen the bond between Luxaire and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.”
Luxaire® products from Johnson Controls include high-performance residential central air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces and accessories and light-commercial, packaged heating and cooling systems marketed through a network of distributors and delivered to home- and building-owners through independent Luxaire heating and air conditioning dealers. For more information about Luxaire, visit www.joinluxaire.com or call 877-958-9247.
About the Make-A-Wish Foundation
The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Based in Phoenix, the Foundation is one of the world’s leading charities, serving children in every community in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and more than 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants a wish every 38 minutes and has granted more than 212,000 wishes in the United States since its inception. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit wish.org and discover how you can share the power of a wish®.
Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in over 150 countries. Our 162,000 employees create quality products, services and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and interior systems for automobiles. Our commitment to sustainability dates back to our roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. Through our growth strategies and by increasing market share we are committed to delivering value to shareholders and making our customers successful. In 2011, Corporate Responsibility Magazine recognized Johnson Controls as the #1 company in its annual "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com.
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Please Direct Reader Inquiries to:
Mary Mocarski
Luxaire Brand Manager
Johnson Controls – Unitary Products
507 E. Michigan
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Photo Caption
Republic, a Luxaire® distributor, teamed up with businesses in the Davenport, Iowa, area to help raise $2,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Iowa during the city’s third annual Make-A-Wish® Walk For Wishes event.