Toward Zero Deaths Pledge Wall raises $20,000 for The Foundation

3M’s pledge wall raises funds annually to support The Foundation’s mission

(Fredericksburg, Va.) - The Foundation will receive $20,000 to further their mission of assisting families impacted by roadway work zone crashes, thanks to 3M’s Toward Zero Deaths Pledge Wall.

Toward Zero Deaths is a national initiative to eliminate highway fatalities. As part of this initiative, for the past three years, 3M’s Transportation Safety Division has presented a large display wall at the American Traffic Safety Services Association’s Annual Convention & Traffic Expo, with space for individuals to write on 3M Post-it® Notes to honor fallen roadway workers and pledge to donate funds for The Foundation.

The Foundation’s mission is to support injured or fallen roadway workers and their families.

Eric Hedman, U.S. marketing operations manager for 3M’s Transportation Safety Division, said that the company has been supporting The Foundation for several years, and decided that the pledge wall would be a way to not only generate additional awareness for the Toward Zero Deaths goal, but to also bring in additional funds from companies for The Foundation.

“We were looking for a new approach to continue to donate and to do so in a way that helped generate additional money for The Foundation by encouraging other companies,” said Hedman.

According to Heather Swanson, a global communications specialist for 3M’s Transportation Safety Division, the pledge wall raised $4,526 on-site at American Traffic Safety Services Association’s (ATSSA’s) 48th annual Convention & Traffic Expo, and an additional $5,285.54 was raised through online promotion of the initiative. 3M will match the donations made through the pledge wall, bringing the total raised to $20,000.

“The work that 3M has done to support The Foundation has been amazing. With that $20,000 donation, we’ll be able to fund our programs that assists the dependents of roadway workers killed or permanently disabled in a roadway work zone, including our Experience Camps Travel Scholarship and Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship,” said Foundation President Tom Wood.

Hedman said 3M’s support of The Foundation also ties in to the 3M Transportation Safety Divisions’ core mission.

“3M is a very innovative company and is continually committed to advancing technology that will improve roadway safety, and furthers 3M’s mission to help families get home safely,” said Hedman. “We believe that The Foundation’s program to help families who are impacted by roadway fatalities is very beneficial, and this is why we continue to support this effort as we can see the direct impact on individuals.”

ATSSA is a proud supporter of The Foundation.

To reach 3M’s Transportation Safety Division for further information, contact 3M Communications Manager, Marcia Lozier at mllozier@mmm.com or 651-733-3879.