Marble Institute of America: Press Room

MIA MAKES KATRINA DONATION - EXPANDS WEBSITE TO HELP AFFECTED STONE PROFESSIONALS

CLEVELAND, OH., SEPTEMBER 8, 2005— The Marble Institute of America, the major trade association for the natural stone industry, has made a $5000 contribution to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina and expanded its website so that affected members and their employees can find other members who have voluntarily offered assistance.

In addition to the initial financial contribution, MIA, headquartered in Cleveland, will match any relief donation by members of its staff.

"MIA is committed to playing a role in marshalling the stone industry's response to this catastrophe," said Gary Distelhorst, executive vice president of an organization which has more than 1300 members around the world representing every facet of the business.

Distelhorst said the space made available on the MIA website will allow affected members the opportunity to find other members who have voluntarily offered assistance in hiring displaced employees, etc. Distelhorst said that a number of members have already posted job openings for displaced workers in such wide-ranging areas as Florida, South Carolina, Texas, and New Jersey.

The website also offers advice to members on how they can make a contribution to victims of Katrina, either as companies or individuals, and offers a partial list of organizations to which contributions can be made.

To find out more about the MIA's efforts and how to respond, go to www.marble-institute.com and click on "Hurricane Relief."

About the Marble Institute of America

Celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2004, the Marble Institute of America (MIA) is the world's leading information resource and advocate for the dimension stone industry. MIA members include marble, granite, limestone, sandstone, and other natural stone producers and quarriers, fabricators, installers, distributors, and contractors around the world. For more information, contact MIA at (440) 250-9222, e-mail MIAinfo@marble-institute.com, or visit www.marble-institute.com.