Caterpillar Donates Equipment to the First Response Team of America

SANFORD, NC, July 1, 2014 /3BL Media/ – To help aid in disaster response and recovery efforts in the United States, Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) is donating two compact track loaders to the First Response Team of America. The First Response Team of America is a not-for-profit organization that acts as a first line of defense in natural and man-made disasters by using specialized equipment to clear sites so other disaster relief organizations can help.

“Caterpillar wants to make an impact wherever our employees work and live. This donation will do just that with the help of the First Response Team of America,” said Keri Cole, manager for the compact loader business in the Building Construction Products Division. “The First Response Team of America has been a vital resource for communities across the country and right here in Sanford.”

The First Response Team of America has responded to dozens of large-scale U.S. disasters since 2007, including the Sanford, North Carolina, tornado in April 2011. Most recently, the First Response Team of America helped residents in Washington, Illinois, after an EF-4 tornado destroyed much of the central Illinois community last November.

“Caterpillar has been instrumental in the First Response Team of America’s ability to respond to disasters around the country,” said First Response Team of America founder Tad Agoglia. “I see firsthand the challenges communities face after so much loss. In those times, help and hope are needed. The power and reliability of Caterpillar equipment help communities not only respond to the disaster, but also take their first steps toward cleanup and rebuilding.”  

Agoglia was a longtime Caterpillar customer before beginning his not-for-profit organization. The Caterpillar Foundation has invested in the First Response Team of America through grants since 2008, while Caterpillar Inc. has donated equipment and the company’s dealer network has provided service.