At a time when budgets are tight and resources are scarce, Sherrie Chapman, dean of continuing education at Northeastern Technical College (NETC), welcomes Harbor Freight Tools as an enthusiastic partner ready to support vocational schools around the Pee Dee region.
"We truly appreciate the economic impact that Harbor Freight Tools has in our service area and your giving back to the community by your generous contribution to the college," said Dean Chapman. "We appreciate your employees who worked to load the trucks and deliver the tools to us! Thank you Harbor Freight team for giving us 'Christmas in August!'"
Thanks to the $100,000 gift of tools and equipment from Harbor Freight Tools and Eric Smidt, CEO, hundreds of students at NETC, Marlboro County School District, Dillon County Technology Center, Marion County Academy of Careers and Technology and AMI Kids Sand Hills will benefit from higher quality industrial education programs. The donation, in addition to promoting creativity and innovation, will encourage students to turn their passions into paychecks.
"Vocational training in public schools has been neglected and underfunded for far too long," said Eric Smidt, CEO of Harbor Freight Tools. "We want to help our public schools train the next generation of plumbers, carpenters, electricians and mechanics. With our tools in these South Carolina classrooms, we can help thousands of students work their way toward meaningful, higher paying careers."
After the delivery to the Marion County Academy for Careers and Technology (ACT), Director Darrell Jameson said, "On behalf of the students and staff, we thank Harbor Freight Tools for their generous donation of tools and supplies. They will be used to further instruction in the Automotive Technology Program, the Automotive Collision Repair Technology Program, and the Construction Trades Program. We truly believe that partnerships like this will have a lasting impact on the lives of the students and encourage them to do their best in school when provided with excellent equipment."
Harbor Freight invited the schools' career education instructors to compile "wish" lists. And the lists were long—they asked for and received more than 470 items. All will be put to good use in the industrial education programs for careers in manufacturing, electronics and many other fields.
