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Donation of $100,000 to national military and veteran support
organization, second in series of three equal annual payments
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Goal of hiring 100 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan service extended
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Offer to train veterans interested in exploring welding as a career
continues
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Volunteer opportunities available for anyone interested in supporting
U.S. troops
Airgas, Inc. (NYSE: ARG), the largest U.S. distributor of industrial,
medical, and specialty gases, and welding, safety, and related products,
today marked the upcoming Independence Day holiday by reaffirming its
commitment to Operation Homefront, a charity that supports America's
troops by providing emergency assistance and moral support to the
families our troops leave behind when they are deployed and to wounded
service members when they return home.
A donation of $100,000 was presented to Operation Homefront at the
Airgas Southwest store on W.W. White Road in San Antonio, Texas, the
city where Operation Homefront is headquartered. Airgas announced last
year a $300,000 pledge to be paid in increments of $100,000 per year
over three years, with 70 percent going toward Operation Homefront's
projects to assist wounded soldiers. At that time, Airgas also set a
goal to hire 100 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan service in the
following 12 months, and began offering the Airgas “Welding 101” course
to any veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan service who is interested in
exploring a career in welding. In light of challenging economic
conditions, Airgas is extending the duration of its goal in hiring
veterans to span the three-year commitment that it has to Operation
Homefront, as well as its offer of Welding 101 training.
“The sacrifices made by our military community during the course of our
nation’s military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan are immense,” said
Airgas Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Peter McCausland. “Operation
Homefront was founded to meet the needs of the military community during
these difficult times, and Airgas is proud to join others in supporting
this work to give vital aid to those who have given so much to this
country.”
Airgas associates nationwide have been involved in local activities and
fundraisers to support Operation Homefront.
