FLORIDA’S ALLEN BOATRIGHT TO LEAD LOG A LOAD
San Antonio, Texas – Allen Boatright, state Chairman of Florida’s Log A Load For Kidsâ Program since 1999, recently assumed the leadership of the National Log A Load For Kids Advisory Group and announced a national fundraising goal of $2.5 million for the year 2004.
In acceptance remarks to delegates at a National Log A Load For Kids Conference, November 16 in San Antonio Allen stated, “Log A Load For Kids is a program that the whole forest industry can be proud of. While trees are our most valuable resource, kids are surely our most precious resource. Log A Load gives us a chance to provide medical help to children in need. And this help is provided regardless of the family’s ability to pay. It’s definitely a program we can all be proud to be a part of.”
Log A Load For Kids is an annual campaign, which encourages loggers and others in the forest products community to donate the value of one load of logs or any amount to local Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) hospitals. The program provides an excellent opportunity for loggers to demonstrate their professionalism and commitment to community service. In 2002, thousands of Log A Load volunteers in 29 participating states raised nearly $2.1 million for local CMN hospitals.
Allen Boatright of Boatright Timber Service, Inc. in Tallahassee, Florida succeeds Debby Blomberg of Blomberg Logging in Ogema, Wisconsin as Log A Load For Kids National Chairman. Allen ended his Conference closing remarks by thanking Debby for her dedication to the Log A Load For Kids program. He stated, “It’s going to be difficult to fill the shoes that Debby left behind.” During Debby’s term, the Log A Load program raised nearly $2.1 million annually even with the economic downturn of the forest products industry.
Timberjack, A John Deere Corporation provided a generous grant to fund the Log A Load For Kids National Conference expenses and over 40 individuals representing 16 states traveled to San Antonio to share their Log A Load For Kids campaign successes and to seek ideas for improving their local programs.
Log a Load For Kids is an annual campaign, which encourages loggers and others in the forest products community to provide financial support for their local Children’s Miracle Network hospitals. Log A Load For Kids is one of CMN’s leading National sponsors in terms of donations to its children’s hospitals.