LAS VEGAS — In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies (PMMI), announced that the money raised during its annual Pack Gives Back event at Pack Expo Las Vegas will go to the American Red Cross to help with relief efforts in the Gulf Coast region. Attendees of Pack Expo, set for Sept. 25-27 in Las Vegas, can donate on-site at the PMMI booth in the Central Lobby.
In addition, the PMMI has established an on-line donation platform here. The organization has agreed to match donations up to $100,000 between the event and the link.
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| Chuck Yuska, president and c.e.o. of the PMMI |
“The need for hurricane relief is immense and immediate,” said Chuck Yuska, president and chief executive officer, PMMI. “Our hearts go out to everyone impacted, including PMMI members and customers along with their families. The Red Cross is playing a critical role in aiding the victims of this storm by putting relief donations to work where they are needed most. We hope the contributions from our industry help to provide comfort to those impacted by this disaster.”
Pack Gives Back is an annual fundraising event held by PMMI that donates a portion of ticket sales to different charitable causes. PMMI’s leadership team decided to change its plans
“Due to the immediacy of this natural disaster, our leadership felt the need to divert funds from the Pack Expo Scholarships to Hurricane Harvey disaster relief efforts,” Mr. Yuska said. He added that the PMMI Foundation will still support the six, $5,000 scholarships for packaging and processing students.”
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| Jim Pittas, c.o.o. of the PMMI |
Jim Pittas, chief operating officer of PMMI, added, “While we will always support advancing industry education, the immediacy of this natural disaster is unprecedented and requires instant community action. Our industry has given back to the community year after year through Pack Gives Back, and this year the victims of this devastating and continuing storm need our help.”
This year’s Pack Gives Back event, sponsored by Rockwell Automation, will feature veteran rock and roll band The Doobie Brothers, and will take place Monday, Sept. 25 at 4:00 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the Las Vegas Convention center during Pack Expo.
Tickets for Pack Gives Back are available on-line for registered attendees and exhibitors at www.packexpolasvegas.com/pack-gives-back. Priced at $75 each, anyone who purchases 10 tickets will receive an additional ticket for free.
“It’s always a wonderful event, and the fact that it’s raising money now for such an important cause is fantastic,” said Tracy Stout, vice-president, marketing and communications, PMMI. “We certainly feel like the Red Cross is the right place to send the money, as we know they will appropriately use the funds to support the relief effort.”
