CDWC Cdw Corp (MM)

CDW Corporation Sending 300 Coworkers From Across the U.S. To Gulf Coast as Part of "Operation Home Delivery" With the arrival of the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, CDW Corporation (NASDAQ:CDWC) is continuing its sustained hurricane relief efforts by sending 300 coworkers to Slidell, La., to rebuild homes with the East St. Tammany Chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Through the company's "Operation Home Delivery" initiative, teams of 30 CDW coworkers from all across the U.S. and Canada began traveling to Louisiana on Aug. 20 and will continue doing so for 10 consecutive weeks, ending Oct. 25. Each week, CDW coworkers are rebuilding homes destroyed by the hurricane. All expenses for the four-day relief trips are paid by the company and coworkers' days there are considered paid company time. "From the time Hurricane Katrina's magnitude became clear, CDW made a commitment to help residents and small business owners across the Gulf region get back on their feet. One year later, we are continuing our work through these rebuilding trips, which embody the vibrant, giving spirit of our coworkers," said John A. Edwardson, chairman and chief executive officer of CDW. "Many Gulf Coast residents are still living in trailers as countless homes still must be rebuilt. Mountains of debris are left to be removed. Small businesses are still struggling to re-establish themselves. Enormous needs are still unmet, but American corporations collectively can make a difference." Other CDW hurricane relief efforts have included: -- Creating the "Small Business Reboot" program with the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI). CDW donated $700,000 and through challenge grants raised a total of $1 million to support the Small Business Disaster Relief Fund. Founded by the LABI, the Fund has provided grants to help re-establish more than 200 small businesses in the four states most affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita - Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. -- Sending 80 CDW coworkers to St. Bernard Parish over a four-week period in April and May to help clear debris in an area devastated by the hurricane's floodwaters. As with the current trips, all expenses were paid by the company and coworkers worked on houses on company time. -- In the immediate aftermath of the storm, gathering shipments of relief supplies and shipping them to the New Orleans area through the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Through two "Road Trip for Recovery" efforts, CDW collected and delivered more than seven tons of food and supplies. -- Providing equipment and support for a satellite-equipped Mobile Computing Unit (MCU) to serve as federal law enforcement command center in Gulfport, Miss., during the months immediately following the storm. "These efforts were not implemented from the top down. They were born of our coworkers' desire to help. CDW coworkers want to make a difference in the world and our corporate culture supports that spirit," Edwardson said. ABOUT CDW CDW(R), ranked No. 343 on the FORTUNE 500, is a leading provider of technology solutions for business, government and education. CDW is a principal source of technology products and services including top name brands such as Acer, Adobe, Apple, Cisco, HP, IBM, Lenovo, Microsoft, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, Symantec, Toshiba and Viewsonic. CDW was founded in 1984 and today employs approximately 4,450 coworkers. In 2005, the company generated sales of $6.3 billion. CDW's direct model offers one-on-one relationships with knowledgeable account managers; purchasing by telephone, fax, the company's award-winning CDW.com web site, customized CDW@work(TM) extranets, CDWG.com web site and macwarehouse.com web site; custom configured solutions and same day shipping; and pre- and post-sales technical support, with approximately 120 factory-trained and A+ certified technicians on staff. CDW is a registered trademark and CDW@work is a trademark of CDW Corporation. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.