The A. O. Smith Foundation made first-time donations to the Army Emergency Relief Fund and the Fisher House, two organizations providing support to soldiers and their families at Fort Campbell, Ky. Lisa Darnall, safety manager for A. O. Smith’s plant in Ashland City, Tenn., presented the donations to Betty Geren from AER and Wendy Carlston from Fisher House.

The Army Emergency Relief is a private, nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance to soldiers — active and retired — and their dependents when there is a valid emergency need. Its slogan is “Helping the Army Take Care of Its Own.”

The AER assistance program is conducted within the Army structure by major commanders and their installation or organization commanders and provides a variety of financial assistance including emergency financial aid, children and spouse scholarships, grants to “Wounded Warriors” and benefits for surviving family members.

Fisher House is a private-public partnership that provides free, fully handicapped-accessible facilities for soldiers and their families.  At least one Fisher House exists at every major U.S. military medical center. The Fisher House in Kentucky is located near the Blanchfield Army Community Hospital at Fort Campbell and is a 7,200-sq.-ft. facility that offers space for up to eight families.

 The A. O. Smith Foundation, founded in 1955, is a private, nonprofit organization that contributes to qualifying charitable, educational, scientific, literary and civic organizations located primarily in communities where A. O. Smith Corp. has facilities. Support for the foundation comes from the profits of A. O. Smith Corp. Since its founding, the foundation has provided more than $34 million in financial support for worthwhile community programs and organizations.