Gerdau : donates more than 44,000 pounds of non-perishable food during the holiday season

Press release

Employees of Gerdau's North American special and long steel business divisions collected more than 44,000 pounds of non-perishable food items for charities in the communities in which they operate during the 2014 holiday season. The initiative was part of a company-wide campaign to encourage the spirit of giving during the holiday season. Employees at each location were challenged to collect a certain amount of goods, which was determined based on how many employees work at a given location. "We set goals that are challenging, yet attainable," said Tom Taborek, human resources director of the company's special steel division and head of Gerdau's North American social responsibility efforts. "Ultimately, we want the goals to be met. It's a win-win." In addition to food donations, many employees contributed new and unwrapped toys to the drive. The company rewarded locations with exemplary results by making an additional financial donation to their respective non-profits of choice. These organizations include national non-profits, such as The Salvation Army, as well as local charities, including the Interfaith Shelter in Jackson, Mich., the Blessings in a Backpack program through Huntington County School District in Ind., and Simcoe Hall Settlement House in Oshawa, Ontario, among others. The Gerdau Holiday Campaign is part of the company's ongoing commitment to improving the local communities in which it operates. Each location has its own social responsibility committee who work together to identify opportunities to make a positive impact in the local community throughout the year. About Gerdau Gerdau is the leading producer of long steel in the Americas and one of the largest suppliers of special long steel in the world. It has more than 45,000 employees and industrial operations in 14 countries with operations in the Americas, Europe and Asia, which together represent an installed capacity of more than 25 million metric tons of steel per year. It is the largest recycler in Latin America and around the world it transforms millions of metric tons of scrap into steel every year. Gerdau is listed on the stock exchanges of Sao Paulo, New York and Madrid and has approximately 140,000 shareholders.