Sources: RMC Research & Education Foundation, Silver Spring, Md.; CP staff
The Ready Mixed Concrete Research & Education Foundation (RMC Foundation) kicked off a major fundraising campaign and celebrated its 25th anniversary at a reception during the 2016 National Ready Mixed Concrete Association Convention in San Diego.
RMC Foundation officers announced an initial $3,275,000 in pledges over the next five years, led by $500,000 commitments from Ash Grove Cement Co., CalPortland Co. and Lehigh Hanson Inc. Early contributors in the $100,000–$300,000 range are GCP Applied Technologies, BASF Construction Chemicals, Command Alkon, Concrete Supply Co., U.S. Concrete, Vulcan Materials, Chandler Concrete and Staker Parson Cos.
The campaign will secure matching gifts to leverage a $3 million pledge from the Troesh Family Foundation of California. Paid over the 2016–2020 period, it is predicated on the RMC Foundation achieving a 3:1 match in contributions from industry and other sources. A total of $9 million in new contributions must be pledged in order to receive the full Troesh Foundation gift. A $12 million net will enable the RMC Foundation to maintain its current funding levels for programs advancing ready mixed concrete and cast-in-place concrete practice.
RMC Foundation Chairman Matt Wood (Ash Grove Cement) recognized companies stepping up to the fundraising challenge prior to the official campaign launch. “It is a testament to the Foundation’s high-value research and education programs that companies like ours are so willing to reinvest in this important industry resource,” he affirmed.
“These commitments have gotten us off to a great start, and we are humbled that so many companies have been willing to step up early on,” added RMC Foundation Executive Director Julie Garbini. “If we are able to achieve our [$9 million] goal, we anticipate that the Foundation will finally be fully-funded so that it can be maintained as a lasting industry resource for funding research and education.”
Additional information on the campaign, 25th anniversary and current Foundation projects can be obtained at www.rmc-foundation.org.
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