Rubbermaid Renews Sponsorship Commitment to Foodservice Industry Education and Training

Sponsorship Donation to National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Provides Resources to Help Train and Educate Future Leaders in the Foodservice Industry

Huntersville, N.C. (July 25, 2007) - Rubbermaid Commercial Products, the leader in innovative safety and productivity solutions for the foodservice industry, announces a donation of funds and resources as part of a sponsorship for two key initiatives for one of the foodservice industry's most esteemed educational organizations - the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF).

Rubbermaid Commercial Products (RCP) sponsorship donations support the NRAEF's National ProStart® Student Invitational and the International Food Safety Council. The sponsorship donations are part of a continued effort by RCP to help improve restaurant and foodservice operations nationwide by educating current and future professionals in the foodservice industry.

RCP donated cutting boards to the top five teams in both the management and culinary competitions at the sixth annual National ProStart Student Invitational. The competition, held in Charlotte, N.C., April 20-22 of this year, attracted the top high school students enrolled in the ProStart program from 34 states across the country. ProStart is a two-year high school restaurant and foodservice management program that blends classroom learning with mentored work experience. Winning teams from the competition were also awarded scholarships to pursue careers in the restaurant and foodservice business.

"Rubbermaid works closely with and continually contributes resources to the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation because we believe it is everyone's responsibility in the industry to help train and educate the current and future leaders in restaurant and foodservice business," said Virginia Murray, product director, Rubbermaid Commercial Products. "Through continued support through sponsorships and by providing the industry with products that make more efficient, safer and better organized foodservice operations, we will continue to give back to the industry that is the largest private sector employer in the United States."

The NRAEF has also received considerable support from RCP for the association's International Food Safety Council, a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to heighten awareness of the importance of food safety education throughout the restaurant and foodservice industry. NRAEF continually seeks to educate current and future professionals in the foodservice industry on food safety issues and best practices through numerous training and certification programs.

"We are delighted to have the support of Rubbermaid Commercial Products to help us achieve our educational and training initiatives for those in the foodservice industry," said Mike Konstant, director, strategic partnerships, National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. "Rubbermaid has been a trusted partner of ours for years. They back up their commitment to the foodservice industry through both the products they make and the resources they provide for initiatives such as ours. We look forward to a continued relationship with Rubbermaid in the future."

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