Evonik Donates $10,000 To Tippecanoe Schools Following Tornado Damage

Evonik Corporation has donated $10,000 to the Tippecanoe School Corporation (TSC) to help cover the cost of relocating more than 950 students to temporary classrooms following severe tornado damage on November 17, 2013, to Southwestern Middle and Mintonye Elementary Schools.

“Fortunately, none of our employees were injured during the storm, but the significant damage to local schools has affected a number of our employee families and the community,” said Clive Whiteside, site manager of Evonik’s Lafayette, Ind., site. “Evonik has always had a strong commitment to education, and we are proud to make this contribution to help maintain the safety of our students and get them back into the classroom as soon as possible.”

The TSC developed a plan to relocate students to temporary classrooms until the Southwestern Middle and Mintonye Elementary Schools can be repaired and deemed suitable for students to return.

“I would like to thank Evonik for this generous contribution,” said Dr. Scott Hanback, superintendent of TSC. “The outpouring of support our school system, teachers and students have received during this tough time has been very heartwarming. Evonik has been a long-standing community partner, and this latest contribution has helped strengthen our bond.”

Hanback estimates indicate it could be six months to one year before students can return to Southwestern Middle and Mintonye Elementary Schools.

"As an employee and father of a child who was relocated, it means a lot to see Evonik support the community and provide assistance to those in need," said Philip Reksel, senior engineer at Evonik's Lafayette site. "It's very gratifying to see Evonik and everyone in the community come together like one big family."

Evonik is a specialty chemical company employing hundreds of residents from Tippecanoe County and produces pharmaceutical ingredients used in the formulation of drugs including oncology therapies and veterinary medications.

For additional information about Evonik in North America, please visit our website: www.evonik.com/north-america. Please visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EvonikNorthAmerica. Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EvonikN_America.