For Immediate Release
September 21, 2017
Contact: Kate Achelpohl, SGIA
703.359.1364
Fairfax, Virginia — SGIA is reintroducing its SGIA Expo T-shirt, for sale only at the 2017 SGIA Expo (New Orleans, October 10–12) and will donate all proceeds from its sale to lowernine.org, an organization dedicated to rebuilding the Lower Ninth Ward, which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina.
“As the SGIA printing community comes together to help residents of Texas and Florida rebound from the recent effects of Hurricane Harvey and Irma, it’s important to note that the cleanup can take months, or even years,” said Ford Bowers, President & CEO, SGIA. “In 2005, New Orleans suffered the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina — 100 percent of the homes in the Lower Ninth Ward were rendered uninhabitable — and the efforts are still underway to help the region rebuild.”
The 2017 Expo shirt idea — a black shirt with brilliant colors, gel coating and foil effects — was conceived by an internal committee at SGIA and designed and printed by Graphic Elephants LLC. All materials also were donated by suppliers and manufacturers: shirts by Fruit of the Loom, screen printing equipment by The M&R Companies, Newman Roller Frames by Stretch Devices, Wilflex Ink by PolyOne, Shur Loc Panels, Murakami Mesh, Kiwo/Ulano Stencils, Easiway Systems Chemistry, PMI Tape and Amagic Foils.
“We definitely wanted to capture the spirit of New Orleans’ French Quarter with artwork that would display the detail of its timeless architecture and its colorful environment,” said Lon Winters, President, GraphicElephants.com/Print This, Inc. “So, we headed to the drawing board. Literally. We got out the pencil and paper and began to sketch what our idea would be.”
Once finalized, the internal committee voted on the local New Orleans organization to donate the proceeds to and lowernine.org was overwhelmingly chosen, showing support for the area Hurricane Katrina impacted most. To date, lowernine.org has completed 85 full rebuild projects, bringing home more than 170 people. They also have completed more than 250 smaller projects, enabling people to remain in their homes safely, or to fix problems left by shoddy contractors.
“The most pressing concern facing lowernine.org today is awareness,” said Emily Stieber of lowernine.org. “Total success for lowernine.org will be when all pre-Katrina residents of the neighborhood who wish to return are back in their homes, and are living in safe and secure housing in a neighborhood free of blight.”
2017 SGIA Expo attendees will have the unique opportunity to help hurricane victims and be part of the solution to rebuilding communities devastated by hurricanes by taking home the exciting 2017 SGIA Expo shirt for just $5.
Join us in New Orleans for the 2017 SGIA Expo, October 10–12!
SGIA — Supporting the Leaders of the Digital & Screen Printing Community
Having its origins in the screen printing industry, SGIA embraced the digital revolution early on and is now the trade association of choice for professionals in the industrial, graphic, garment, textile, electronics, packaging and commercial printing communities looking to grow their business into new market segments through the incorporation of the latest printing technologies. SGIA membership comprises these diverse segments, all of which are moving rapidly towards digital adoption. As long-time champions of digital technologies and techniques, SGIA is the community of peers you are looking for to help navigate the challenges of this process. Additionally, the SGIA Expo is the largest trade show for print technology in North America. “Whatever the medium, whatever the message, print is indispensable. Join the community — SGIA.”