Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold awards grants to Eastern Arizona Communities

September 17, 2013 /3BL Media/ - The Graham County Community Investment Fund was established in 2009 by Freeport-McMoRan to focus on programs and projects that create a sustainable community benefit. Funding decisions were made by a committee comprised of local leaders and two company representatives.

Since 2009, the Graham County Community Investment Fund has invested a total of over $2.2 million in local projects. Among the four priority areas, 47% has been invested in locally-identified projects supporting community health and safety, 35% in education, 15% in economic development and 3% in environment.

• Graham County Rehabilitation Center was awarded $44,400 to expand programs at the Recycling Center
• Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center was awarded $36,000 for vascular screening equipment
• Gila Watershed Partnership was awarded $35,700 for a communitywide water study program to teach users water-saving techniques
• The Safford City-Graham County Library received $35,000 for the ScienceCity youth program
• Solomon School was awarded $26,100 to bring whiteboard technology into all classrooms
• Pima Elementary School received $20,000 for playground equipment replacement
• Schools in Safford, Arizona, received $131,000 to expand wireless networks in the district
• The Thatcher, Arizona, School District received $80,000 to modernize an existing physical education facility at the high school
• Boys & Girls Club of the Gila Valley received $80,000 to help maintain the after school program

For more information about these programs and others, please visit www.FreeportInMyCommunity.com.

For further information about Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.’s social investment commitments, please see http://www.fcx.com/sd/community/comm_invest.htm

Please see the 2012 Working Toward Sustainable Development Report for more information on all of their social, economic and environmental efforts. http://www.fcx.com/sd/pdfs/WTSD_2012.pdf