Trade Association Honors Its Host Convention City By Donating to Local Charities
Philadelphia, PA – October 26, 2001- The National Welding Supply Association (NWSA) President Sheron Carter and his wife, Lyn, presented over $32,000 to two San Francisco charities on behalf of NWSA’s membership. The donation was made under a charitable initiative entitled NWSA Gives Back that it developed to honor the host city of its annual convention by contributing to local charities chosen by the current President and spouse.
This year, NWSA’s 57th Annual Convention was to have been on September 23-26, 2001 at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, California.
Because of the tragic events of September 11, NWSA was forced to cancel the event. Nevertheless, Sheron and Lyn Carter made a special trip to San Francisco from their home in Florida to present the NWSA Gives Back proceeds to Lincoln Child Center and Beating the Odds to benefit at-risk children. Last year, NWSA Gives Back contributed to two charities for senior citizens in Maui, Hawaii.
The Lincoln Child Center is a nonprofit agency that provides mental health services for emotionally disturbed and at-risk children and their families through innovative counseling and education programs. Located in Oakland, the Center provides a safe and sheltered home for 50 children as well as an individually tailored academic program for 85 troubled students.
Administered by the Peninsula Community Foundation, Beating the Odds is an award-winning television series, now in its fourth year, that features low income, high risk youth who are overcoming staggering obstacles to pursue their educational goals. Reported by anchorwoman Wendy Tokuda on KRON-TV Channel 4 in San Francisco, the program solicits tax-deductible donations to a scholarship fund that makes it financially possible for these students to attend college.
Funding for the NWSA Gives Back comes directly from the membership and all donations are voluntary. (For a list of donors, click here). The NWSA Gives Back 
presentation was held on Friday, October 26 at the KRON-TV studio.
According to Mr. Carter, “As far as we know, we are the first trade association to give back in this way to the community where an association’s convention is held. We are proud to be here to continue an initiative that has quickly captured the support and enthusiasm of NWSA’s community of members.”
NWSA is a national trade association representing 650 distributors and 350 manufacturers of industrial gases and related welding supplies and equipment.
NWSA is managed by Fernley & Fernley, Inc., a 115-year-old association management company, headquartered in Philadelphia, that manages over 20 trade associations and professional societies