Miami, Fla., October 17, 2011 – The Gases and Welding Distributors Association (GAWDA) donated over $200,000 to two New York City charities on Monday, October 12, putting the non-profit organization over the $1 million mark in charitable contributions through its GAWDA Gives Back campaign.

Over the past 12 years, GAWDA Gives Back has donated $1,177,803 to help charities in the host cities of their annual convention. This year, New York City is hosting the convention and GAWDA has selected the FDNY Fire Family Transport Foundation and the Pencil Fellows Program as the recipients of their members’ monetary contributions.

“GAWDA members really stepped up this year and gave generously to the FDNY Fire Family Transport Foundation and the Pencil Fellows Program,” said Lloyd Robinson, GAWDA president. “Not only did we donate over $200,000 total to two very deserving charities but GAWDA Gives Back has donated over $1 million to date to help make a difference in the lives of many deserving people.”

FDNY Fire Family Transport Foundation is dedicated to the well-being of the fire department family; for recognition of the unique sacrifices that firefighters and their families selflessly make for the sake of all. The central focus of the foundation is assisting families of firefighters in their times of greatest need, by transporting firefighters, family members and department personnel to and from medical institutions both for care and family support. The foundation received $101,375 from GAWDA.

The Pencil Program provides successful, career-minded juniors and seniors in New York City public high schools with dynamic learning experiences through full-time paid summer internship positions. The charity also received a $101,375 donation from GAWDA.

Previous benefactors of the GAWDA Gives Back campaign include Hawaii’s Community Closet which received a donation of $193,162 in 2010, WINGS “Women Involved in Nurturing, Giving, Sharing,” in San Antonio, TX
which received $162,255.00 in 2009 and Ranfurly Homes for Children in Nassau, Bahamas which received $136,030.00 in 2008.

The 2011 Annual GAWDA Convention took place October 9 -12 at the Times Square Marriot Marquis.

About GAWDA
Founded in 1945, the Gases and Welding Distributors Association (GAWDA) is dedicated to promoting the safe operation and economic vitality of distributors of industrial gases and related welding equipment supplies. To date, through the GAWDA Gives Back drive, GAWDA members have donated over $1 million to charity organizations across the U.S. For more information, visit the association’s website at www.gawda.org