ST. LOUIS — During the National Association of Electrical Distributors Western Region Conference general session, President and CEO Wes Smith, along with NAED Board Chair Paul Kennedy, announced the association will be donating $5,000 to the American Red Cross for Los Angeles Wildfire relief.
With the NAED conference less than 100 miles from the devastating fires, the association wanted to make sure we are all aware of the people and businesses that will be impacted for an extended period of time. That includes many people who work at companies that are members of NAED.
“It’s a tragedy of absolute epic proportions,” Wes Smith, NAED’s President and CEO said. “LA is a massive city. To give you a little perspective, I live in Birmingham, Alabama. Its equivalent to about half of Birmingham, burned.
“How do you fill up a bucket? One drop at a time. So NAED is kicking it off, we are making a $5,000 donation to wildfire relief. There are coworkers and family members who are impacted. I am always amazed at how we’re all touched by something, and we all know somebody, and we are all connected.”
“This is catastrophic destruction that is going on,” Paul Kennedy, President and CEO of DSG and NAED’s Chair continued. “It will likely be the most costly natural disaster in our county’s history. We have members and manufacturing partners who have facilities that are being impacted, and customers that are being impacted as well.”
To date, the wildfires have scorched more than 40,000 acres and destroyed more than 15,000 structures. Most of the fires are still not 100% contained. Estimates currently place the damage at $250 billion
NAED is also asking member companies and individuals to consider making a donation to wildfire relief through the Red Cross. You can do that by going to the organization’s wildfire relief page at www.redcross.org.
Tagged with giving back, LA wildfires, NAED