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January 18, 2010
Important recognition of ICE-SAR: A grant from the Alcoa Foundation
The Alcoa Foundation has decided to support ICE-SAR rescue teams in East Iceland with a two-year grant of 100,000 US$. The grant will be a founding contribution for the East-Iceland Rescue Teams Education and Training Fund. Hafsteinn Viktorsson, Manager of Production, Alcoa Fjarðaál, presented the rescue teams with the grant today.
The twelve ICE-SAR chapters in East-Iceland include almost 600 volunteers, of which 350 are on call 24/7. The Accident Prevention and Youth teams in East-Iceland comprise around 700 volunteers. „It’s good to live in a community where several volunteers are on call for searches and rescues night and day, often under extreme conditions. This contribution from the Alcoa Foundation stands as recognition for the invaluable work of rescue teams in East Iceland and a token of appreciation for their good work,” said Hafsteinn Viktorsson when he presented the grant.
Gudjón Már Jónsson, the ICE-SAR area manager for East-Iceland, accepted the grant on behalf of the rescue squads in the Ársól Team Rescue Centre in Reydarfjordur. “The grant helps us to fulfill the ambitious aim that ICE-SAR has recently set: that everyone on the rescue teams’ call list finishes an extensive basic study and training program for rescue work. The grant also enables us to warranty recruitment for the rescue teams, by increasing and enhancing youth activities within the framework. Furthermore, it makes it possible to offer larger courses in various fields in the East, and the possibility has opened up to send our people abroad to gain knowledge, which will help all of us,” Gudjón said.
At the presentation ceremony, Eidur Ragnarsson, member of the ICE-SAR board, thanked the Alcoa Foundation for its visionary view, to support the education of rescue teams in East-Iceland. „We all know that there is no end to the value of education, and this grant will reinforce the rescue squads and their work in East-Iceland, for the benefit of the community,” Eidur said.
Last year, the Alcoa Foundation and Alcoa Fjardaál donated over 56 million ISK (450,000 US$) to 65 community projects in Iceland. The Alcoa Foundation was established 56 years ago, and has, since the beginning contributed around 500 million US$ to community projects in the countries, all over the world, where the company operates.
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