CDW "Small Business Reboot" Challenges Corporate Sector to Help Rebuild Gulf Coast Small Businesses
CDW Works with Louisiana Association of Business & Industry on Grant Fundraising for Small Business Disaster Relief Fund
METAIRIE, La. - December 20, 2005 –CDW Corporation (NASDAQ: CDWC) and the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI), today launched "Small Business Reboot," a challenge-match program to encourage companies around the nation to contribute to the Small Business Disaster Relief Fund (Fund). Founded by the LABI, the Fund provides grants to help rebuild small businesses in the four states most affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita – Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
This morning, John Edwardson, chairman and chief executive officer of CDW, presented an initial donation check for $350,000 to Daniel Juneau, president of LABI.
On top of its initial donation, CDW is challenging businesses and others to contribute money to the Fund to help small businesses get on their feet again – money CDW will match dollar-for-dollar, up to an additional $350,000. CDW's donation and match program were made possible when CDW coworkers decided to forego their annual holiday party and use its significant budget to help in the Gulf Coast rebuilding efforts. CDW's donation and match, as well as contributions expected to be made to the Fund by other businesses during the match program, would yield a total of $1.05 million in contributions.
Edwardson noted that in the days after Katrina struck, CDW and its coworkers donated money, food, time, and technology to other charitable and humanitarian efforts benefiting the Gulf region but still wanted to do more, and, since small businesses are the growth engine of the American economy, CDW coworkers wanted to give where it could do the most good.
"The long-term viability of this region's economy depends on small business recovery," Edwardson said. "As a long-time small business advocate, and as a company noted for its responsiveness, CDW understands that these enterprises are the backbone of the Gulf region's economy and they need our help now. That's what this effort is about – providing real help, right now, where it has the greatest potential to provide both immediate and long-term benefits."
This year's catastrophic hurricanes left a disaster area the size of Great Britain, with hundreds of thousands of small businesses destroyed and employees displaced. LABI created the Fund to cut through the red tape associated with many relief loan programs and, instead, provide grants directly to approved small business applicants. LABI established eligibility criteria and engaged the nonprofit Baton Rouge Area Foundation to administer a "blind" application and evaluation process, in which business identities are concealed from volunteer teams who screen the applications.
LABI's Juneau believes these numbers could increase significantly as a result of the "Small Business Reboot" campaign.
"Although a record $2.9 billion has been raised in the past four months for hurricane relief, most of these monies are not earmarked to help the small business owner. Our grant requests far outweigh the amount of money we've been able to raise for the Fund so far and we are in a desperate situation in seeking additional help," said Juneau. "CDW's generosity and the challenge-match initiative, which should raise over $1 million, will help us serve a far greater number of small businesses still trying to recover from the destructive hurricanes that swept through the region."
Additionally, CDW is taking a hands-on approach to helping the Gulf Coast. Funds from the canceled holiday party will also be used to send hundreds of company coworkers to travel to the Gulf region to help people rebuild and rewire their small businesses and homes.
"Like many businesses in New Orleans, we had flood waters rising to our roof, leaving behind stains and a hefty financial burden," said Carl Franzella, co-owner of Sun Interiors Ltd., a commercial flooring contractor based in Metairie, and one of the first recipients of grant money and donated labor. "We've been serving the New Orleans metropolitan area for more than 30 years, and we are determined to stay here and rebuild. At first, it didn't seem possible, but with the assistance of the Fund and CDW's generosity, we're on our way to recovery."
According to LABI, the Small Business Disaster Relief Fund is the only grant program in the Gulf region actively supported by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the National Small Business Association, and the National Federation of Independent Business.
More information about CDW's "Small Business Reboot" is available at www.labi.org or http://www.cdw.com/reboot, including information on how businesses can donate to the "Small Business Reboot" campaign.
About CDW
CDW®, ranked No. 347 on the FORTUNE 500, is a leading provider of technology solutions for business, government and education. CDW is a principal source of technology products and services including top name brands such as Adobe, APC, Apple, Cisco, HP, IBM, Microsoft, Sony, Symantec, Toshiba and ViewSonic.
CDW was founded in 1984 and today employs approximately 4,100 coworkers. In 2004, the company generated sales of $5.7 billion. CDW's direct model offers one-on-one relationships with knowledgeable account managers; purchasing by telephone, fax, the company's award-winning CDW.com web site, customized CDW@work™ extranets, CDWG.com web site and macwarehouse.com web site; custom configured solutions and same day shipping; and pre- and post-sales technical support, with approximately 120 factory-trained and A+ certified technicians on staff.
Additional information can be found by visiting CDW.com.
About LABI
LABI was founded 30 years ago to serve as Louisiana's state chamber of commerce and manufacturing association. The member-supported organization's mission is to foster a climate for economic growth by championing the principles of the free enterprise system and representing the general interests of Louisiana's business community. With more than 3,500 members, of which more than 80 percent are small businesses, LABI is the state's premier business association. More information on LABI is available at www.labi.org.
NOTE TO EDITORS
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