FORT WAYNE, IND. — WaterFurnace International Inc., a leading manufacturer of geothermal and water source heat pumps, recently donated $25,000 to the United Service Organization (USO) of Indiana, making the company the largest single contributor to the nonprofit military support organization. Tom Huntington, WaterFurnace president and CEO, presented the check during a Nov. 21 news conference at the company’s corporate headquarters in Fort Wayne, Ind., where he was joined by members of the 122nd Air National Guard and other representatives from WaterFurnace and the USO.
“This represents the seventh consecutive year that we’ve been fortunate to be able to present a check to the USO,” said Huntington. “We’re very proud of the men and women who serve in our military and grateful for the work they do every day to defend our country. This check represents just a small token of our appreciation for their service.”
WaterFurnace matched proceeds from the WaterFurnace 25th Annual Supplier Golf Outing, held Sept. 4-5 at Brookwood Golf Club, Fort Wayne. Participants in the golf outing were encouraged to make a donation during an online registration process. The USO provided attendees with tours of the local air force base, Humvee rides, and rides in a restored Huey helicopter. The outing also included a silent auction, providing participants with the opportunity to bid on a variety of items, including a day at the Humvee test track, a pair of plane tickets to anywhere in the U.S., and golf flags signed by various golfers and race car drivers.
According to the USO, most of the money that WaterFurnace contributed will support an outdoor pavilion at Camp Atterbury, a training base for the Indiana National Guard that is located near Edinburgh, Ind., as well as activities at the 122nd Air National Guard Base in Fort Wayne, Ind.
The USO is a non-profit, charitable organization that relies on donations from private citizens and corporations to lift the spirits of America’s troops and their families around the world. It currently has 160 locations in 14 countries and 27 states that provide service men and women with the comforts of home. The organization also provides critical support to those in need, including forward-deployed troops and their families, wounded warriors and their families, and the families of the fallen.