ASHLAND CITY, Tenn. – The A.O. Smith Foundation made first-time donations to the Army Emergency Relief Fund (AER) and the Fisher House, two organizations providing support to soldiers and their families.

Betty Geren (left), representing Army Emergency Relief, exchanges a handshake and a word of thanks with Lisa Darnall (right), safety manager at A.O. Smith Corp. in Ashland City, Tenn., for the financial assistance that will benefit active and retired soldiers and their dependents.

Lisa Darnall, safety manager for A.O. Smith’s plant in Ashland City, Tenn., presented the donations to Betty Geren and Wendy Carlston, representing the two organizations, respectively, at Fort Campbell, Ky.

Army Emergency Relief (AER) is a private, nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance to soldiers — active and retired — and their dependents when there is a valid emergency need. The AER’s slogan is “Helping the Army Take Care of Its Own.” The AER assistance program is conducted within the Army structure by major commanders, and their installation or organization commanders, and provides a variety of financial assistance including emergency financial aid, children and spouse scholarships, grants to “Wounded Warriors,” and benefits for surviving family members.

The Fisher House is a private-public partnership that provides fully handicapped-accessible facilities for soldiers and their families. There is at least one Fisher House at every major U.S. military medical center. The Fisher House in Kentucky is located near the Blanchfield Army Community Hospital at Fort Campbell and is a 7,200-square-foot facility that offers space for up to eight families. Currently, military families pay nothing to stay at Fisher House.

In addition, A.O. Smith announced the Contractor Scholarship recipients for the 2013–14 academic school year.

“At A.O. Smith, we understand that education is a key to future success,” said David Chisolm, director of marketing at A.O. Smith. “We feel privileged to assist these dedicated individuals in pursuing a higher education through the Contractor Scholarship and have the highest of hopes for their continued success in the future.”

A.O. Smith awarded four scholarships totaling $8,000 for 2013-2014. This year’s outstanding scholarship recipients include:

• Chelsey Browell of Ephrata, Pa., a speech pathology major at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, Bloomsburg, Pa.;

• Emily Hugo of Bartlett, Tenn., a forensic chemistry major at University of Mississippi, Lafayette, Miss.;

• Travis Mack of Devils Lake, N.D., a public relations and advertising major at North Dakota State University, Fargo, N.D.;

• Tyler Arndt of Brooklyn, Wis., a plumbing major at Madison Area Technical College, Madison, Wis.

This is the 12th year A.O. Smith has sponsored the scholarship program, assisting 134 students since its inception. The program is open to high school seniors, high school graduates, and GED recipients or students currently enrolled in a full-time accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational school. Any spouse, child, or grandchild of a professional contractor association or contractor rewards member with a desire for continuing his or her education may compete for a scholarship award.

Publication date: 11/25/2013 

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