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GERDAU SUPPORTS THOSE IN NEED THROUGH KARM’S DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL

Jul. 08, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 8, 2013

For more information,
Contact: Scott Bird
Moxley Carmichael
865-544-0088
[email protected]

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Two teams from Gerdau's Knoxville steel mill participated in Knox Area Rescue Ministries' 11th annual Dragon Boat Festival at Concord Park June 22. Members of the company's rolling mill team included (left to right): Front row: Gwen Reichel, Randy Lingus, Eseosa Orumwense, Madison Wiley, Katie Wallace, Taylor Wallace, Gio Cover and Jill Von Hagel. Second row: David Reichel, Jermaine Williams, Steve Williams, Chris Keim, Emily Butterfield, Jamie Gass and Ron Fritz. Back row: Cameron Tate, Laramie Wright, Jeremy Guy, Chip Keim, Josh Butterfield, Chad Jackson and Brian Campbell.

Two teams from Gerdau’s Knoxville steel mill participated in Knox Area Rescue Ministries’ 11th annual Dragon Boat Festival at Concord Park June 22. Members of the company’s rolling mill team included (left to right): Front row: Gwen Reichel, Randy Lingus, Eseosa Orumwense, Madison Wiley, Katie Wallace, Taylor Wallace, Gio Cover and Jill Von Hagel. Second row: David Reichel, Jermaine Williams, Steve Williams, Chris Keim, Emily Butterfield, Jamie Gass and Ron Fritz. Back row: Cameron Tate, Laramie Wright, Jeremy Guy, Chip Keim, Josh Butterfield, Chad Jackson and Brian Campbell.

Employees from Gerdau’s Knoxville steel mill were out in force to participate for Knox Area Rescue Ministries’ 11th annual Dragon Boat Festival on June 22 at Concord Park. Donations from Gerdau to the organization totaled nearly $1,800.

“We have enjoyed a long relationship with KARM through past monetary and food donations,” said Gerdau Vice President and General Manager Johnny Miller. “This event is a great way to build our internal team while supporting our neighbors in need.”

At the Dragon Boat Festival, teams of 20 paddlers, a drummer and steerer race in authentic Hong Kong-style, 46-foot-long dragon boats.

“KARM is grateful to Gerdau for its ongoing support,” said Knox Area Rescue Ministries President and CEO Burt Rosen. “We value participation from companies like Gerdau, who help make the KARM Dragon Boat Festival a fun event for the community, while they also aid in the serious purpose of caring for the poor and needy in our area.”

Members of the company's melt shop team included (left to right): Front row: Cuylar Preuss, Gustavo Werneck, Lydia Yocum, Cindy Whitaker, Julianne Lyttle and Johnny Miller. Second row: Don Clark, Matt Preuss, Erika Miller, Alana Wallace, Bethany Davidson, Christina White and Ken Strickland. Back row: Damien Rose, Fernando Costa, Lisa Houser, Tom White, Blake Adams, Jack Welch, Matt Crumley, Brian Lyttle and Scott Long.

Members of the company’s melt shop team included (left to right): Front row: Cuylar Preuss, Gustavo Werneck, Lydia Yocum, Cindy Whitaker, Julianne Lyttle and Johnny Miller. Second row: Don Clark, Matt Preuss, Erika Miller, Alana Wallace, Bethany Davidson, Christina White and Ken Strickland. Back row: Damien Rose, Fernando Costa, Lisa Houser, Tom White, Blake Adams, Jack Welch, Matt Crumley, Brian Lyttle and Scott Long.

Knox Area Rescue Ministries, located in downtown Knoxville, provides at no charge up to 1,000 meals daily to anyone in need. The organization also shelters up to 400 men, women and children daily and provides addiction programs, educational assistance and employment training.

Gerdau has a robust social responsibility program that focuses on providing community support in the locations where it operates.

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 over 45,000 employees and industrial operations in 14 countries with operations in the Americas, Europe and Asia, which together represent an installed capacity of over 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 São Paulo, New York, and Madrid and has around 140,000 shareholders.

The Knoxville steel mill has been in this community for 110 years under various names and owners. Gerdau took over operations in 2000 and employs 246 local residents.