West Marine Gifts $2500 to ABYC Foundation, Upgrades to Gold Member Status
In an effort to recognize the importance of marine safety standards and standards-based training, West Marine, the country's favorite retailer of boating supplies and accessories has made a $2500 donation to ABYC, in addition to upgrading their membership level in the non-profit standards writing organization.
(PRWEB) August 6, 2005 -- The American Boat & Yacht Council announced
today a generous $2,500 donation to the ABYC Foundation from a leading marine
consumer retailer and longstanding ABYC member, West Marine, Inc. Along with the
donation, West Marine also upgraded their membership to become a Gold Member
with ABYC. The donation will be used primarily to support ABYC’s efforts to
strengthen industry technical education and training.
ABYC President
Skip Burdon said, “I would like to extend our sincere thanks for the multi-level
sign of commitment and support West Marine has so generously provided ABYC.
Through its upgraded membership and donation to our Foundation, West Marine is
enabling ABYC to continue expanding its educational and technical services. We
are delighted that West Marine recognizes the importance of ABYC and is actively
working to spread that message to the boating public.”
Chuck Hawley, Vice
President of Product Development at West Marine said, “West Marine is proud to
be associated with ABYC, and we are excited about the opportunities for our Boat
Services team members to participate in ABYC Certification training, as well as
giving them easy access to the standards.”
West Marine’s Assistant Vice
President for Boat Service JP Giovanni said, “Our Boat Services team looks
forward to working closer with ABYC. I believe that this partnership, together
with others in the industry, will positively change the landscape of the boating
industry, while making boaters safer and happier.”
About West Marine,
Inc.
West Marine, the country's favorite retailer of boating supplies and
accessories, has nearly 400 West Marine stores and BoatU.S. Marine Centers in 38
states, Puerto Rico and Canada. The Company’s catalog and Internet channels
offer customers approximately 50,000 products - far more than any competitor -
and the convenience of exchanging catalog and Internet purchases at its retail
stores. The Company's Port Supply division is the country's largest wholesale
distributor of marine equipment serving boat manufacturers, marine services,
commercial vessel operators and government agencies. For more information on
West Marine's products and store locations, or to start shopping, visit
westmarine.com or call 1-800-BOATING (1-800-262-8464).
About the ABYC Foundation
The ABYC Foundation is a not-for-profit,
501(c)3 organization that was established in 1988 to provide financial support
for special projects, scholarships, safety-related research, education and
training programs and other initiatives that are considered important to our
industry, but over and above budgetary capability of the American Boat &
Yacht Council (ABYC). The Foundation’s effort on behalf of ABYC impacts marine
excellence across the board, and are designed to promote and foster boating
safety. For more information on the ABYC Foundation or to make a donation,
please visit www.abycinc.org.
About ABYC
ABYC has been developing,
writing and updating the safety standards for boat building and repair in the
United States for over 50 years. ABYC is actively involved with the
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) as well as education and
certification programs for marine technicians. These standards are available on
CD-ROM, online (Web-STIR) and in printed form. Membership and general
information can be requested by visiting the ABYC web site at
www.abycinc.org.
Contact:
Caroline Chetelat
410-956-1050
e-mail
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/8/prweb269380.htm