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Miller Electric Supports Fox Cities PAC With $125,000 ITW Foundation Donation
- Grant will help Performing Arts Center bring programming to school children
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| This enthusiastic group of youngsters recently took in a play offered through the Fox Cities PAC’s Education Series. |
APPLETON, Wis. (July 23)—Demonstrating its continued support and commitment to the greater Appleton community, the ITW Foundation recently pledged $125,000, payable over five years, to the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center on behalf of Miller Electric Mfg. Co.(www.MillerWelds.com). Miller is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Illinois Tool Works (NYSE: ITW), Glenview, Ill.
“The Appleton community has been instrumental in our success, both in terms of the residents who work at Miller and in helping to attract new residents through its tremendous and varied arts organizations,” said Mike Weller, Miller president and president of ITW Welding Products¾Distribution. “This donation is just one of the ways we give back to the community that has given so much to us.”
The $125,000 donation will be used to provide reduced ticket prices to the P.A.C.’s Education Series programs, which enables K–12 students to attend the Center’s performing arts events.
“Countless studies have shown the long term benefits, from higher test scores to improved self confidence, of exposing children to the arts,” explained Susan Stockton, president of the Fox Cities P.A.C. “Our mission is to make the arts available to everyone and donations such as this allow us to keep ticket prices extremely low, typically between $5 to $7.”
The Thrivent Financial Education Series programs—15 of which are lined up for the coming season—bring in performance artists from as far away as South Africa. They attract 20,000 school children each year and range in style from classical Shakespeare to a gospel choir to a production of the popular children’s book, “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.”
In addition to this latest contribution, Miller also donated $150,000 to the P.A.C. during its initial fundraising campaign. “The P.A.C. has been a great asset to our community. Prospective Miller employees look for this type of cultural programming when relocating to Appleton,” Weller said. “We are proud to be able to support the P.A.C.’s mission and bring these amazing performances to the children of our community.”
ITW sets aside a certain amount of its profits each year for its subsidiary companies to distribute to local organizations through the ITW Foundation. “ITW recognizes Miller’s contributions to its success and wants to support the people in Miller’s community,” Weller explained. “These donations wouldn’t have been possible without ITW’s support. We’ve never had access to this level of funding before.”
Miller has also co-sponsored the P.A.C.’s Boston Pops annual Christmas concert for the last three years, and leads the entire ITW family of companies in the amount of money donated to area non-profit organizations through ITW’s three-to-one matching program.
Headquartered in Appleton, Wis., Miller Electric Mfg. Co. (www.MIllerWelds.com) is a leading worldwide manufacturer of Miller arc welding equipment and related systems for metalworking, construction, maintenance and other applications. Illinois Tool Works (NYSE: ITW) is a diversified multinational manufacturer of highly engineered components, assemblies and systems.
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