AD Honors Southwire's Positive Impact on At-Risk Students

September 28, 2016

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 28, 2016

Wayne, PA – AD, the largest contractor and industrial products wholesale buying group in North America, announced at their 2016 AD North American Meeting that Southwire, a Premier Marketing Partner in AD’s Electrical Division and member of the HVAC Division was recognized as the 2016 AD PHCP (Plumbing, PVF & HVAC) Giving Back Award recipient. Southwire was singled out for their 12 for Life Program that encourages at-risk students to complete high school by providing mentoring and jobs with competitive wages.

During the awards presentation, attending by over 900 AD members and supplier partners, AD’s Chairman and CEO Bill Weisberg stated, “The AD Giving Back Award is presented to a member of supplier that makes the health and success of their local community a priority for their company. Providing an opportunity to lift others is gift and that Southwire’s ten year commitment to this program has seen the graduation rate in their community increased by 17% is truly inspiring.”

Founded in 2007 as a partnership between Southwire and Carroll County Schools, the 12 for Life program combines education in the classroom with mentoring and instruction in life skills that many students would not receive otherwise. To date, nearly 1,600 students have graduated from the program, which has expanded from its original location in Carrollton to now also include a Southwire facility in Florence, Alabama as well as other programs like Great Promise Partnership through the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. 

Southwire’s VP of Sales Charles Eddy shared, “when this program started, 1 in 3 students in our community didn’t receive a high school diploma. And while we are proud of the fact that 44% of the students in our program moved on to higher education, 18% signed-up for military service, and 30% are working at Southwire or other local business; what is most important is the fact that our graduates received work and life skills and earned a diploma that gives them better hope for the future.”

Southwire is a great example of a company who creates positive change to support high school education and mentoring in their local community of Georgia through the 12 for Life Program, a program that could easily be replicated by other organizations across the country.

To learn more about the 12 for Life Program:  http://www.southwire.com/ourcompany/sustainability/12-for-life.htm

Watch Southwire accept the AD Giving Back Award here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQK8GvR4Ch4

Contact: Peggy Penjuke, Marketing Manager

P: 610.977.3158  E: ppenjuke@adhq.com