FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
PHILADELPHIA, PA -- OCTOBER 20, 2007 -- With 1000 gallons of paint, miles of plastic drop cloth, and three truckloads of landscaping materials, 400 volunteers from GE and Northeast High School worked 3,500 hours to improve Northeast High School's campus, located in northeast Philadelphia. GE and Northeast High School joined forces as part of the Greater Philadelphia Cares 14th Annual Philadelphia Cares day -- a marathon day of educational service focused on improving Philadelphia's learning environments.
"For the past 12 years, hundreds of GE Volunteers have dedicated thousand of hours of service to bettering Philadelphia's schools and communities," said Joe Artuso, president & CEO of GE's Trailer Fleet Services in Wayne. "The positive result Greater Philadelphia Cares has on public schools has been immense. Through GE educational programs, like the Reading Stars, which improves student's reading abilities, our Scientist in the Classroom program, which fosters a passion for emerging scientists -- we will continue our work to better our schools, communities and region."
GE Volunteers will also work to expose and develop 14 Northeast High School students in practical professional skills such as marketing, finance and communication through a program called the GE Scholars Care.
"Being part of the GE Scholars Program, has opened my eyes to a huge window of opportunities," said Nicole Cleary, GE Scholar and senior at Northeast High School. "I never would have imagined the vast choices in careers."
Philadelphia Cares Day is organized by Greater Philadelphia Cares, a non-profit organization that creates and manages community service projects designed to meet critical needs in the region. Since the first Philadelphia Cares Day in 1993, thousands of Philadelphians have volunteered their time for this one-day service event, which is a celebration of the service Philadelphia Cares' volunteers do all year long. In 2007, more than 60 schools will benefit from fresh coats of paint, refurbished libraries, landscaped green spaces, restored playground equipment, and much more.
About GE GE (NYSE: GE) is Imagination at Work -- a diversified technology, media and financial services company focused on solving some of the world's toughest problems. With products and services ranging from aircraft engines, power generation, water processing and security technology to medical imaging, business and consumer financing, media content and advanced materials, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.ge.com
ABOUT GE WATER & PROCESS TECHNOLOGIES
A world leader in water, water reuse, wastewater treatment and process solutions, GE Water & Process Technologies brings the best technologies to enhance our customers' efficiency while protecting our environment. GE offers the broadest portfolio of water and process technologies, including: separation equipment; membrane & filtration technology; diagnostic tools; specialty chemicals; mobile water capabilities; service; and financing. GE is your single source no matter what your water or process need. GE is committed to develop and bring to market technologies that promote energy efficiency, lower harmful emissions, increase supplies of water, and reduce our use of fossil fuel---it's called ecomagination. For more information, visit www.ge.com/water.
Media Contacts
Ellen Mellody
Media Relations Manager
Office: 215.942.3307
Cell: 215.989.3025
Tony Kobilnyk
Global Trade Media Relations Manager
Office: 905.465.3030 Ext. 3381
Cell: 905.330.6083