AIS Delivers More than 150,000 Facemasks to United Way Locations in the Northeast United States
Close to 100 United Way locations in 11 states are using AIS mask supplies for people in need
AIS, a leading national manufacturer of commercial office furniture and seating, announced today it has donated and delivered more than 150,000 high-quality facemasks to nearly 100 United Way locations in 11 states from Maine to Ohio.
The program was launched in late October with the United Way Worldwide for its Northeast Region â which includes a dozen states overall and 236 individual service locations. It quickly scaled as coordinators made requests to meet urgent demand for facemasks as a nationwide COVID-19 surge strained supplies of PPE.
âWe adjusted our operations last March to enable large-scale manufacturing of facemasks and created a nationwide network of volunteer âRosiesâ to supplement those supplies,â said AIS President and CEO Bruce Platzman. âOur relationship with the United Way of North Central Massachusetts led to this program, which we are happy to say is providing support and protection for first responders, front line workers, people at higher risk and others across the entire Northeast.â
United Way locations in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Vermont have received donated mask shipments in quantities ranging from 100 to 5,000.
âThe AIS/UWNCM partnership has been a lifeline to many smaller, rural United Ways in our region. Their level of focus to get folks âmasked-upâ is no different than what our major cities are experiencing,â said John Emge, northeast regional engagement director for the United Way. âThe AIS donation has come at a great time to help maximize everyoneâs efforts.â
Other regional officials for the United Way offered passionate testimonials and details on how the AIS masks are making a difference in their communities.
In Bradford County, Pennsylvania, homeless shelters, YMCA facilities, a Special Olympics team, food pantries, the Big Brother and Big Sister program and other community-based programs received AIS masks courtesy of the United Way.
âUnited Way of Bradford County (UWBC) is very grateful to AIS for helping us âmask-upâ some of the most remote areas in the endless mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania,â said Kerri Strauss, executive director of United Way of Bradford County. âAIS partnering with United Way of North Central Massachusetts (UWNCM) has enabled us to mobilize a large-scale mask distribution that would not have been possible without such a generous donation of masks. Thank you AIS and UWNCM for making a positive, measurable impact on our community during the COVID-19 pandemic.â
In central and northeast Connecticut, a shipment of 1,000 AIS masks were being distributed to children, teens and adults who are in need quality personal protection.
âThrough initiatives like yours, we will help prevent the spread of COVID-19 which is one of the best gifts of all this holiday season. We truly appreciate your support during these difficult times,â said Philip Blonski, community engagement senior manager, United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut.
AIS facemasks are of the highest quality and are manufactured using anti-microbial fabrics and other premium materials. The companyâs Sew The Masks program has recruited nearly 1,000 volunteers in 45 states to create masks on their home sewing machines for donation and delivery to people in need.
Additionally, AIS donated more than 25,000 masks in Massachusetts and another 5,000 in Washington, DC so that Election Day poll workers and voters would be better protected during in-person voting in the November 3 presidential election.
ABOUT AIS
AIS, headquartered in Leominster, Massachusetts, is a leading manufacturer of commercial office furniture and boasts one of the most impressive stories of growth and success in the furniture industry. Founded in 1989, the company is known for offering market-relevant, feature-rich product lines that entice designers and support the diverse needs of end-users while offering exceptional value. AIS is an innovator that leads the industry in sustainable, lean manufacturing, lead-time performance and manufacturing flexibility. The Boston Business Journal has twice recognized AIS â in 2019 and 2020 – with its Corporate Citizenship Award. AIS has permanent showrooms at its Leominster headquarters and in Chicago, New York City and Washington, D.C. With locations across the U.S., AIS has more than 800 employees and over 1 million square feet of office, showroom and factory space. For more information, visit www.ais-inc.com.
