/24-7PressRelease/ - DENVER, CO, June 27, 2008 — Colorado-based Excell Foodservice Equipment Dealer Network, a national group of industry vendors and dealers, has created a foundation collecting "wish lists" of foodservice equipment and supplies needed by non-profit organizations from children's homes to summer camps. Just granted 501(c)(3) non-profit status earlier this year, The Foundation is off and running with its impact across the country.
On an ongoing basis, The Foundation's board reviews nominations of non-profits in need of equipment and supplies. Those organizations lucky enough to be chosen are the beneficiary of a philanthropic Excell Foundation membership as partners in securing, shipping and installing the equipment.
"Already, the foundation has been able to donate equipment to a summer camp for children with developmental disabilities in the Midwest, a homeless shelter in the Rockies, and a children's home in the Deep South," said Randy Brunschwig, President of The Excell Foundation. "And we've awarded scholarship funds to a culinary student attending a nationally respected institution."
The Excell Foundation announced its first donations in front of 250+ dealers and vendors at its official kickoff in Hilton Head, SC. Arnaldo Torres, owner of Savannah Restaurant Equipment, nominated St. Mary's Children's Home. Two of the Sisters that run the home were representatives at the inaugural dinner, receiving the gift to replace the dishwasher last installed when President Nixon was in office. Insinger Machine Company donated the dishwasher along with freight. Mr. Torres donated dining room tables and chairs alongside John Boos, the company that donated an industrial sink for the home's kitchen.
Touched by the evening's presentations, the vendors then chose to donate all the floor items from the Excell Foodservice Equipment dealer Network trade show to the children's home as well. According to Mr. Torres, "when the truck pulled up to the home and the kids came running out, it was as though Santa just pulled up in his sleigh."
Present at the kickoff was a board member of another beneficiary, Shane Cloud of D Cloud and Company. He nominated Camp Barnabas, a camp for kids and teens with life-threatening illnesses and disabilities including his own child. The scholarship money for a Johnson and Wales University student will be dispersed later this month. In all, more than $15,000 worth of equipment and scholarship money top off the first month of distributions from The Excell Foundation, a new organization with a powerful tagline, "cooking up better lives."
About The Excell Foundation
As an industry leader in procurement and marketing of foodservice equipment and supplies, Excell Foodservice Equipment Dealer Network - in collaboration with its vendors and dealers - seeks to improve the functionality, efficiency and value of community-based non-profit programs through the Excell Foundation. It is the vision that shelters, homes, hospitals and other community-based entities in need of foodservice products or funds - capital, academic or programmatic - have the opportunity to receive and leverage such contributions.
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