NORMAN, OKLA. – (April 27, 2009) – April 7 was a night of firsts at Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros baseball team. The team won its first game of the 2009 season, defeating the Chicago Cubs 3-2. In addition, the Astros organization launched its year-long celebration of the club’s tenth season at the ballpark, and Luxaire® (www.joinluxaire.com) distributor Solar Supply, Inc. hosted the first of at least 12 Make-A-Wish® children and their families at the baseball game.
The 2009 baseball season represents the fifth year that Solar Supply has sponsored these special children and their families at Minute Maid Park. The baseball experience includes tickets to a game, food and drink money and additional funds to cover a trip to the souvenir shop.
“The goal is to create an evening of fun that will not cost the family anything,” said Quitman Moon, Solar Supply regional sales manager. “These are special children and families, and we just want them to enjoy the game and everything that comes with it. If we’re lucky enough to put a smile on their face, well, then we put one on ours as well.”
Solar Supply’s sponsorship of Make-A-Wish children at Houston Astros games complements the partnership between the nation’s largest wish-granting organization and Luxaire. Luxaire recently signed its third three-year contract with the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America. This extends the partnership into 2011 and commits $675,000 in contributions over three years.
Luxaire first embarked on a partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation in 2001, agreeing to donate a portion of every sale of a Luxaire product toward its minimum annual contribution of $250,000. Since that time, Luxaire has donated more than $1.75 million to the organization, enough to grant the wishes of more than 250 children diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions.
The Luxaire network of distributors and dealers also works with Make-A-Wish chapters to organize a variety of fundraising activities, including raffles, golf outings and events affiliated with minor league baseball, Central Hockey League and Arena Football League teams. Using money raised by these and other fundraising activities, Luxaire has directly sponsored the wishes of more than 80 children in dealer markets.
“It’s a way for our dealers and their employees to give back to the communities where they live and work,” said Moon. “It’s an incredible experience for all of us, whether it’s contributing to the granting of a wish or treating a family to a baseball game. I think it’s safe to say that we get as much, if not more, out of the experience as we give.”
Luxaire encourages homeowners to participate in the program by donating all or a portion of product rebates to their local Make-A-Wish chapter during spring and summer promotions of Luxaire brand products. A number of redesigned marketing materials will continue to support the program and raise consumer awareness.
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. It is the largest wish-granting charity in the nation, with 65 chapters 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 40 minutes and has granted more than 173,000 heartfelt wishes since 1980. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit www.wish.org.
To learn more about the partnership between Luxaire and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit www.joinluxaire.com/MAW.
Luxaire® products from Johnson Controls, Inc., 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.
Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) is the global leader that brings ingenuity to the places where people live, work and travel. By integrating technologies, products and services, we create smart environments that redefine the relationships between people and their surroundings. Our team of 140,000 employees creates a more comfortable, safe and sustainable world through our products and services for more than 200 million vehicles, 12 million homes and one million commercial buildings. Our commitment to sustainability drives our environmental stewardship, good corporate citizenship in our workplaces and communities, and the products and services we provide to customers. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/.
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Please Direct Reader Inquiries to:
Walt Jacobe
Luxaire Brand Manager
Johnson Controls
5005 York Drive
Norman, OK 73069