Bobcat Gives Largest Single Donation to Red Cross Chapter for Hurricane Relief

Illustrating that Americans' hearts and minds are still with the victims of Hurricane Katrina, today Bobcat Company officials donated nearly $67,000 to the Minn-Kota Chapter of the American Red Cross in Fargo, N.D.

On behalf of Bobcat Company, a business of Ingersoll Rand, a diversified industrial firm, Bobcat North America President Scott Nelson presented the $66,738 check to Sherri Thomsen, executive director of the Minn-Kota Red Cross at the Minn-Kota Red Cross Education Center.

"We are extremely pleased that our Bobcat Company dealerships and employees were able to step up and raise these funds to help with American Red Cross relief efforts along the Gulf Coast," Nelson says. "Like everyone across the nation who saw the devastation, we wanted to do something to help the victims - some of whom were part of the Bobcat family."

To raise the money, Bobcat Company officials vowed to contribute $100 from each "gold package" option sold on Bobcat machines over a four-month period from Sept. 1 to Dec. 31. Several dealers from around the country also raised money privately to increase the donation.

At the end of the year, the company had garnered more than a $132,000. Nelson said they decided that at least half of the money would be earmarked for the American Red Cross, and the other half would go directly to 14 individuals within the Bobcat organization affected by Hurricane Katrina. Recently, Bobcat Company began distributing checks to those 14 employees who represent four of the region's hardest hit dealerships, including Bobcat of Lake Charles, La.; Duhon Machinery Co., New Orleans; Beard Equipment Co., Biloxi, Miss.; and Bobcat of Broward, Pompano Beach, Fla.

Since Hurricane Katrina struck last August, the American Red Cross has distributed millions of dollars in food, shelter, physical and mental health services, and other relief assistance to thousands of families ravaged by the storm. Though progress is being made to rebuild the devastated Gulf Coast communities, Thomsen said it's important for people to remember that there's still a lot of work to be done. That's why she's thankful for companies such as Bobcat that continue to come forward with contributions to help repair the damage.

 "I think more than anything what this contribution means to the victims of Hurricane Katrina is that when devastation hits, the American people and the American Red Cross are going to come out and support them ... we're going to give them hope and be there when they need us," Thomsen says.