Company to Donate in Excess of $134,000 to Children’s Charities Designated by Its Customers
Expanded Program Total to Exceed $150,000 with Vendor Participation
JERSEY CITY, N.J., Oct. 02, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rand Logistics, Inc. (“Rand”), a leading provider of bulk freight shipping services throughout the Great Lakes Region, announced the Company has raised in excess of $150,000 for children’s charities designated by its customers and vendor partners as a result of its annual Marine Miracle Month Program.
Now in its third year, Rand donates $0.05 for every ton of cargo carried by its fleet during the month of August to nonprofit organizations with a primary focus on the health and wellbeing of children. Rand’s customers select the children’s charity of their choice, and Rand makes donations in each participating customer’s honor. The donation amount is based upon the total tons each customer shipped during the month of August and totals in excess of $134,000 this year.
New for this year’s Marine Miracle Month, a variety of Rand’s vendor partners operating in the Great Lakes region have signed on to augment the program, donating an additional $18,000 to their own children’s charities in honor of Rand’s Marine Miracle Month.
“We are overwhelmed by the continued interest and positive response that our customers, vendor partners, employees, and community organizations have shown towards the initiative, enabling us to expand the program and exceed last year’s program results,” stated Aaron Degodny, Rand’s Co-President & Chief Operating Officer and Chief Commercial Officer. “The support of our vendor partners to use Marine Miracle Month as a platform for their own charitable initiatives highlights how industry can collaborate to support the needs of children in our communities. With more than 35 participating customers this year, and four of our key vendor partners, Marine Miracle Month has created a vehicle for Rand to give back to the many communities in which we operate and expand the reach of our corporate social responsibility efforts, while strengthening partnerships with our valued customers and suppliers.”
Degodny continued, “Rand introduced the Marine Miracle Month program in 2016, and we are proud to have raised more than $400,000 to date toward organizations across the Great Lakes. The donations based on cargo carried in August have been augmented with additional donations from individuals, vendor partners, a silent auction and other activities that help support our goals. We look forward to continuing Marine Miracle Month as an annual event for Rand, our customers, our vendor partners and the organizations and children in the communities that it positively impacts.”
Qualifying not-for-profit organizations selected by Rand’s participating customers and vendors must hold 501(c)(3) status in the U.S. or be a registered charity in Canada providing services and benefits to children.
About Rand Logistics
Rand Logistics, Inc. is a leading provider of bulk freight shipping and ship repair services throughout the Great Lakes region. Through its subsidiaries, the Company operates a fleet of three conventional bulk carriers and twelve self-unloading bulk carriers including three tug/barge units. The Company is the only carrier able to offer significant domestic port-to-port services in both Canada and the U.S. on the Great Lakes. The Company's vessels operate under the U.S. Jones Act – which reserves domestic waterborne commerce to vessels that are U.S. owned, built and crewed – and the Canada Coasting Trade Act – which reserves domestic waterborne commerce to Canadian registered and crewed vessels that operate between Canadian ports.
CONTACT:
Rand Logistics, Inc.
Corporate Communications:
Annemarie Dobler
(212) 863-9429
annemarie.dobler@randlog.com