Orian Rugs Donates Rugs, Trees to Anderson Schools and Habitat for Humanity

Anderson, S.C. - May 13, 2009 - In honor of its 30^th anniversary, Orian Rugs donated 30 rugs to Anderson County School District 5 and 30 trees to Habitat for Humanity. The announcement was made at Orian's 30^th anniversary celebration at their Anderson plant on Wednesday, May 13^th at 3:30p.m. Anderson District 5 Superintendent, Betty Bagley, and Anderson Habitat for Humanity Director, Libby Winkler, were in attendance at the ceremony to accept the donations.

Bagley says the donation could not have come at a better time. "Each year, outstanding teachers and staff throughout the district are honored in our Teacher and Employee of the Year awards," Bagley explained. "Eighteen teachers - one from each school - and five employees are nominated for the awards. Typically, we give a monetary award for this honor. But this year, budget cuts have made that impossible. We plan to give each of them an Orian Rug - a gift that will last a lifetime and serve as a constant reminder of their hard work and dedication." Bagley will use the other seven rugs in the future Hospitality House - a student-run Bed and Breakfast at the Hanna-Westside Extension Campus, slated to open during the 2009-2010 school year. Students from the interior decorating classes will come to Orian's showroom to select rugs for use throughout the house.

"The Anderson community has been gracious enough to allow us to call it our home for 30 years now," said Wim De Pape, COO of Orian Rugs. "We want to show our appreciation to the city by giving back to those who give so much. We are fortunate enough to live in an area with terrific schools and wonderful teachers. If our rug donation can help the district give back to these individuals, it is our honor and pleasure to make that happen."

The 30 trees going to Habitat for Humanity will be given over time as houses are completed. "We encourage all of our new homeowners to plant shade trees in their yards not only to look beautiful, but to conserve energy and help the planet," Winkler said. "But it can be difficult to ensure that they will follow through with that recommendation. With Orian's generous donation, we will be able to provide trees for our homeowners free of charge. We are so thankful."

In 2008, Orian Rugs launched their Goin' Green campaign, committing the entire 52-acre plant to reducing waste, conserving energy and educating employees about the importance of protecting the environment. That effort inspired the donation of the trees to Habitat for Humanity. "Anything we can do, large or small, to protect the environment is vital for our future," De Pape said. "Incorporating oxygen-producing, shade-bearing trees into our lives is a small step that pays dividends for decades."

ABOUT ORIAN RUGS: Orian Rugs is one of the oldest continuous domestic rug and yarn manufacturing companies in the country. It is a fully vertically-integrated manufacturing company. Orian Rugs' core business is manufacturing machine woven rugs which are sold primarily through 'big box' retailers in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Orian Rugs is proud that its products are 100-percent made in the U.S.A. Orian is a division of McThree Industries, a world-wide manufacturer of woven rugs and carpets with over 750 employees in the U.S. and Belgium and with over $150 million in revenue. For more information, visit www.orianrugs.com.

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