United Way
The Rinker corporate 2006-2007 United Way campaign raised a record US$42,458.
There were 98 payroll pledges - a 50 per cent increase compared with last year – as well as an increase of 18 per cent on Leadership givers (pledges of US$1,000 or more).
As part of the fundraising campaign, employees also purchased “On the Road Together” cards. The cards featured a picture of a mixer truck and could be purchased in increments of $1, $5 and $10. We also held several raffles that raised a substantial amount of money toward the campaign.
Rinker Materials has a longstanding relationship with United Way, partnering in several community activities throughout the year to provide a positive impact on Palm Beach County. In 2006, Rinker Materials participated in the Back to School Bash and a community painting project to benefit the South Florida Science Museum.
United Way is a national network of more than 1,300 locally-governed organisations that work to create lasting positive changes in their local communities. United Way tackles issues based on local needs. Common focus areas include helping children and youth succeed, improving access to health care, promoting self-sufficiency and strengthening families.
Rinker employees help United Way paint the South Florida Science Museum.
Kelli Thies, Gaby Knittel and Bill Gearhart from Rinker Materials, and United Way of Palm Beach County VP
Brian Edwards.
Google Earth spots Readymix in the desert
Alby with an aerial picture of the Readymix sign in Australia’s Nullarbor Desert.
Who would have thought that a Readymix sign carved into the ground back in 1965 could one day be viewed by people all around the globe?
Almost forgotten, the sign has now come back into focus thanks to programs such as Google Earth – a free satellite mapping program on the web.
With letters spelling Readymix, which are about 240 metres (263 yards) tall by 180 metres (197 yards) wide, internet surfers can now clearly see this desert sign from the comfort of their own homes.
It was carved out when Readymix won the tender to undertake quarrying operations during the construction and sealing of the Eyre Highway, in Australia’s Nullarbor Desert.
“Graders belonging to the contractor were used to scrape off the Spinifex,” recalls Readymix’s Alby Kalajzich, who was a member on the crew who worked on the project at the time.
“We surveyed it and the contractors cut it out and usual payment was a couple of slabs of beer. That’s how we used to operate. It was not a big deal.”
The sign achieved almost a 20-year stint in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s largest advertising sign and the world’s largest letters.
