Powersports Firms Offer Hurricane Relief

swadminSeptember 6, 2005

Dozens of companies in the powersports and marine industries have volunteered funds, products and services to aid in the rescue effort taking place following Hurricane Katrina.
The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) says nearly 100 of its member companies have offered the services of their boats and other equipment.
One such company, Brunswick Corporation supplied 10 Triton 1648 SFB boats with 40hp Mercury Marine FourStroke EFI engines; 10 Mercury inflatable boats; and five engines rigged on Sea Pro boats.
The boats, assembled after a request from the Louisiana governor’s office, were put on trailers and picked up by officers from the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency who have volunteered to tow them to the New Orleans area and aid in the rescue.
On Tuesday, Monita Fontaine, NMMA Vice President of Government Relations, said a Coast Guard liaison indicated that additional boats were not needed in the region at this time.
”Even though some of our members were able to contribute their goods and services, many more were not,” said Monita Fontaine, NMMA Vice President of Government Relations. “We stand ready to assist the State and Federal governments with their relief efforts if they need our help.”
Another company helping via funds and product is American Honda Motor Co., which announced a pledge of $5 million to the American Red Cross – Disaster Relief Fund, and is making available portable generators, water pumps, ATVs, personal watercraft, off-road motorcycles and other vehicles.
The employees of Alloy MX contributed $100,000 worth of clothing items, including shirts, sweatshirt, pants and shorts.
And, at the Steel City Raceway in Pennsylvania this past weekend, motocross racers and fans raised $49,000 for the Hurricane Katrina relief effort through an auction organized by the National Promoters Group and Racer X magazine. Plus, the AMA matched the first $5,000 in bids.
Ricky Carmichael donated a BBR/Suzuki 110cc mini bike, which garnered almost $17,000; Scott USA donated five $1,000 gift certificates; a Ricky Carmichael-signed Racer X magazine cover and signed jersey brought in $3,300; hats offered by Racer Productions staff members brought in $2,300; 125cc motocross class winner Broc Hepler donated two signed jerseys which fetched $2,000; officials at Twin Air Filters donated a check for $2,000; a James Stewart jersey and pants went for $1,000; and rider Mike Jones used his helmet to accept more than $1,000 from fans assembled for the event.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided the following list of organizations providing aid to the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

American Red Cross
800/435-7669 English; 800/257-7575 Spanish;

America’s Second Harvest
800/344-8070

Adventist Community Services
800/381-7171

Catholic Charities, USA
800/919-9338

Christian Disaster Response
941/956-5183 or 941/551-9554

Christian Reformed World Relief Committee
800/848-5818