Grace creates Hurricane Rita relief fund
  by: OilOnline
  Tuesday, October 25, 2005

W. R. Grace & Co. has established a foundation to assist Grace employees affected by Hurricane Rita ("Rita Relief Fund").

Approximately 345 Grace employees live in Louisiana, where the company operates a manufacturing facility in Lake Charles that is the world's largest producer of fluid cracking catalysts, a chemical used to process petroleum.

"We are grateful that all of our employees and their immediate families are healthy and safe following Hurricane Rita," said Fred Festa, President and CEO. "Unfortunately, a number of them returned to homes that were completely destroyed or significantly damaged. We created the Rita Relief Fund to help them rebuild their homes and purchase the items that they lost in the storm."

Grace is opening the fund with a $100,000 donation and will match contributions up to an additional $150,000. As of October 24, donations totaled $121,590. A committee of Grace employees in Lake Charles will distribute the funds to employees who were impacted by the hurricane.

"We are doing everything possible to support our employees, and the Rita Relief Fund is one way that we can deliver maximum benefit to them and their families," Festa said. "Among other things, we have worked with government agencies to secure short-term housing at the plant and set-up a kitchen that is offering meals for employees and those living onsite."

The foundation is funded through an account at Wachovia Bank, NA and is organized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, non-profit organization. Grace employees and retirees are invited to send tax-deductible checks made payable to Grace Employees Rita Relief Fund to:

Grace Employees Rita Relief Fund
P.O. Box 759078
Baltimore, MD 21275-9078