HARMONY ELEMENTARY PTK RECEIVES $5,000 PLUM CREEK FOUNDATION GRANT TO HELP PURCHASE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT

BINGHAM, Maine--Nov. 6, 2008--Harmony Elementary PTK was recently awarded a $5,000 grant from the Plum Creek Foundation to help fund the replacement of outdated and unsafe playground equipment at Harmony Elementary School.

Plum Creek Resource Supervisor Eugene Mahar will present a check to Harmony Elementary PTK during a fundraising concert for the playground project.  The presentation will take place Friday, Nov. 7, at 7:00 p.m., at the Harmony Elementary School in Harmony.    

The grant will help the Harmony Elementary PTK update playground equipment dating back to the 1960s.  The playground will benefit more than 100 children who attend Harmony Elementary, as well as community and area youth, by providing equipment that is consistent with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

“This donation will help us build a new and safe playground, giving the children a much-needed space to play and stay healthy,” said Pat Harrington, teacher at Harmony Elementary School.  “We truly appreciate the generous support Plum Creek has given our school, and we look forward to installing the new equipment next summer.”

The Plum Creek Foundation dedicated the grant to a long-time Plum Creek employee, the late Garnet Ricker, a resident of the Harmony area.

“Garnet was a dedicated and hard working Plum Creek forester for the past 10 years, and before that he worked on the landbase as one of the best heavy equipment mechanics around,” said Mark Doty, community affairs manager for Plum Creek in Maine.  “We are proud to dedicate this grant to Garnet, and are pleased to help the Harmony Elementary School and the community that meant so much to him.” 

The mission of the Plum Creek Foundation is to provide philanthropic contributions to support and improve the general welfare of life in the communities that Plum Creek serves.  The Foundation board meets quarterly to review applications submitted from organizations in the company’s operating communities.  Visit the Community Involvement page on Plum Creek’s Web site at www.plumcreek.com to download an application.

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Plum Creek Timber Company is one of the largest private timberland owners in the nation, with more than 7 million acres of timberlands in major timber-producing regions of the United States and 10 wood products manufacturing facilities in the Northwest.  More information about the company can be found at www.plumcreek.com.