The Genuine Stone™ brand is a trademark of the Natural Stone Council.
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Jennifer Kardian
Stefanie Jones Public Relations Inc.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Natural Stone Council Makes Final Push in 2007 Fundraising Campaign
Council Prepares to Kick Off Year Two of Campaign at StonExpo Next Month
Hollis, New Hampshire. September 1213, 2007 –The Natural Stone Council (NSC), a collaborative organization representing business and trade associations that promote stone under the Genuine Stone™ brand, today announced the success of their 2007 fundraising campaign with over 35 companies contributing.
The NSC’s Fundraising Committee, led by Brenda Edwards, has collected 90% of their goal amount to date, with three months left to secure the last 10%. The money raised has enabled the NSC to make significant progress in their branding campaign for Genuine Stone™ as well as supporting the Sustainability Committee on benchmarking studies and industry awareness initiatives. These efforts would be non-existent without the financial support of donors.
In 2007, the majority of the following companies made three-year pledges to the NSC:
Bella Pietra / Building Stone Institute / Champlain Stone, LTDCold Spring Granite Company / Colorado Flagstone, Inc. / Connecticut Stone
Continental Cut Stone / CumberlandMountain Stone / Dakota Granite Company
Delaware Quarries / Elberton Granite Association / Gallegos Corporation
Granite & Marble Interiors / Granite Expo / Indiana Limestone Company
Indiana Limestone Institute / Luck Stone Corporation / Michaels Corporation
NationalBuilding Granite Quarries Association / Natural Stone Alliance / North Carolina Granite Corporation
Northwest Granite Manufacturers Association / Park Industries / Salado Quarry
Stone AV USA
Stone AV USA
Stonecraft, Inc. / Stonecraft, Inc.
Strid Marble & Granite Company / Strid Marble & Granite CompanySturgis Materials, Inc.
Sturgis Materials, Inc.
Tennessee Marble Company / Tennessee Marble CompanyTexaStone Quarries / TexaStone Quarries
Turner Bros.
Turner Bros.
US Stone Industries / US Stone Industries
Walker Zanger / Walker Zanger
“We have been extremely pleased with the results of our fundraising campaign,” said Brenda Edwards, Chair of the NSC’s Fundraising Committee. “At this point, we are very close to our goal for 2007 and the money we have secured has allowed us to move in directions to promote natural stone and its benefits in ways we never would have been able to without the generosity of our industry.”
The funds raised are distributed in the following way:
- 25% to sustainability programs
- 50% to branding efforts
- 20% to industry promotion initiatives
- 5% to administrative costs
The three-year campaign was put in place to bridge the gap until a more permanent fundraising vehicle, such as a check off program, can be implemented.
The committee will continue their efforts at StonExpo in Las Vegas, October 17-21, with the aim of collecting $70,000 more in order to reach the 2007 goal. Contributions may be mailed to the Natural Stone Council, PO Box 539, Hollis, NH 03049 or may be paid via credit card by emailing .
The NSC Fundraising Committee consists of ChairwomanBrenda Edwards (TexaStone Quarries), Alex Bacharach (Stone World Magazine),John Mattke (Cold Spring Granite Company), Craig Kurvers (Park Industries) and Chuck Monson (Indiana LimestoneDakota Granite), and Rick Johnson (Indiana Limestone Company).
For more information on the NSC and their fundraising efforts, visit
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About The Natural Stone Council
Formed in 2003, The Natural Stone Council is a collaboration of businesses and trade associations that have come together to promote the understanding of, preference for and consumption of stone sold under the Genuine Stone™ brand. To learn more about the Genuine Stone™brand and the efforts of the Natural Stone Council, please visit