Knowing that the shock and sadness we have felt following September 11, and subsequent events may eventually fade, the PennWell Corporation (parent company of Dental Economics, RDH, and Dental Equipment & Materials) has decided it was important to establish a fund that would exist for many years into the future. The Fire Engineering Courage and Valor Foundation will work as follows:
PennWell Corporation has set up a tax-free foundation with an initial $25,000 contribution. PennWell will then match $1.00 for every $9.00 contributed up to a total PennWell Corporation donation of $100,000. Our goal, with your help and with the generosity of PennWell's customers and friends, is to raise and fund the Foundation with $1,000,000.
Each year the income from the Foundation will be awarded to the firefighter (or his or her family) who has exhibited exemplary courage and valor in a rescue operation during the preceding year and in honor of the firefighters who sacrificed their lives on September 11. The Fire Engineering Courage and Valor Award will be presented annually at the FDIC Conference & Exhibition in Indianapolis, with the first presentation during the next FDIC in April 2002.
Many of you may not be aware that Fire Engineering is the oldest magazine among PennWell's 55 publications, dating back 124 years to its start in 1877. Fire Engineering and FDIC specialize in training the firefighters who serve us in disasters large and small. The Fire Engineering staff, and especially our editor Bill Manning, personally knew and worked with many of those heroic people who lost their lives on September 11, including 11 contributing authors and instructors for Fire Engineering and FDIC.
On behalf of the shareholders and management of PennWell, I respectfully request that you consider a meaningful donation to this Foundation to honor our brave firefighters in perpetuity. Your tax-deductible contribution should be sent to this address:
Fire Engineering Courage and Valor Foundation
c/o Valley National Bank
8080 South Yale
Tulsa, OK 74136
In addition, you may want to visit the Fire Engineering web site (www.fireengineering.com) for more information on this fund and the annual award.
