POMONA, Calif., June 9, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- When a giant tsunami in the Indian Ocean struck Indonesia and other countries in south Asia last December, it triggered a disaster of epic proportion, immediately leaving thousands of children orphaned and destroying the livelihoods of thousands of others. People around the world responded with unprecedented kindness and generosity. For the team members at Keystone Automotive Industries (Nasdaq:KEYS) based in Pomona, California, the disaster served as a galvanizing event and promoted a collective desire to help. As a result, the company created an ongoing program of giving.
Keystone Automotive Industries responded to its team members' desire to give by creating a matching donation program with Save the Children, a relief and development organization that has worked in south Asia for three decades.
"When we started looking for a partner organization, we found Save the Children was a perfect fit," said Richard Keister, Keystone's CEO. "They are a wonderful organization dedicated to helping people in need around the world. I'm very proud of our team members and their strong desire to help those who have been devastated by the tsunami. It's uplifting for all of us to know that the Keystone Team is making a difference in so many lives."
Through direct team member donations, and a pledge program through payroll deduction, Keystone Team Members have donated more than $70,000. The company has matched that amount for a total gift of more than $140,000.
"Keystone is an important corporate partner, providing us with critical funds to help support our recovery projects in the areas most affected by the tsunami," said Charles MacCormack, president and CEO of Save the Children. "We are working with local partners to rebuild schools, homes and health centers, and are actively training teachers and midwives to help replace skilled people whose lives were lost in the tsunami. We are also expanding our cash-for work and micro-loan programs to help create new livelihoods for tsunami victims who have no income to support themselves."
Save the Children (www.savethechildren.org) is the leading independent humanitarian organization that works to create real and lasting change for children in need in the United States and around the world. The agency is a member of the International Save the Children Alliance, which is a worldwide network of 27 independent Save the Children organizations working in more than 100 countries to ensure the well-being of children everywhere.
Keystone Automotive Industries, Inc. distributes its products primarily to collision repair shops through its 129 distribution facilities, of which 22 serve as regional hubs, located in 38 states and Canada. Its product lines consist of automotive body parts, bumpers, remanufactured alloy wheels, cooling components as well as paint and other materials used in repairing a damaged vehicle. These products comprise more than 19,000 stock keeping units that are sold to more than 25,000 repair shops throughout the United States and Canada.