ESCO’s Saturday Morning Volunteers/Athletes (part of over 100 ESCO team members).

By Grace Thompson, Marketing Intern; Editorial assistance by Stan Koczkodaj, Marketing Creative Director

June 26-27, 2010: On a hot and sunny summer weekend, over one hundred volunteers from ESCO, including friends and family, arrived at Fairmont Park in Philadelphia to either compete in or volunteer at the Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon. Clad in either white “volunteer” shirts, or red “athlete” shirts, they arrived on site bright and early—between 5:30 and 6:45 AM—via cars and buses to support the execution of the triathlon event, which raised money for The Cancer Center of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). The Tucker Company, an ESCO vendor, provided strong support with about 30 volunteers. The Hilti Company also provided volunteer support.

On Saturday, music provided a backdrop as the athletes completed the Sprint Triathlon, consisting of a .9K swim, followed by a 24K bike, and finally a 5k race to the finish line. Six relay teams of three athletes each from ESCO competed in the Sprint Triathlon, with Anthony Coratolo and Jose Rivera each completing the full sprint triathlon. The six teams were: Better Late than Never (guest Jerry Smith-swim, Mark Cicconi-bike, John Bosco-run), Splash, Flash, and Dash (Tim Buzinski-swim, Brad LaValley-bike, guest Sarah Huckins-run), Creative Finish (Katrina Warren-swim, guest Cristin Yavorsky-bike, Stan Koczkodaj-run), Tri N. Finish (Danette Conley-swim, Ken Neeld-bike, Kent Thompson-run), Phighting Philly Tris (guest Sharon Zou-swim, Chris Levesque-bike, guest Kate Rickards-run), and Malibu Madness (Bryce LaVay-swim, George Redrup-bike, Jim Walton-run). There was an inspirational amount of employee athletic participation in the event, and ESCO is very proud of all of our athletes!

ESCO athletes Dan Edwards, Danette Conley (guided by ESCO volunteer Geoff Fowler), Andrea Manning and Michael Galbus (who was part of an award-winning Olympic Relay team).

ESCO volunteers worked through the morning, bolstered by the arrival of reinforcements for the afternoon. Their tasks included: on-course routing/directions, guidance and safety during athletic competition and the Saturday afternoon Children’s Fun Run and Duathlon; distribution of water to athletes during events and at the finish line; awarding completion medals to all participants as they finished; cleaning up the transition area, assisting with the timing, providing donated food/drink to spectators at the ESCO/CHOP tent; set-up, serving and replenishment of food at the official race food tent prior/during lunch.

ESCO volunteers (white shirts) handling refreshments, flagging bicycle racers during the Children's Race, and handing out bottled water to athletes.

Sunday morning, Team Zodiac, a relay team consisting of guest John Snyder (run), guest Steve Chipouras (bike), and Michael Galbus (run), as well as two individual ESCO employees, Andrea Manning (full) and Dan Edwards (full), competed in the Olympic triathlon, with impressive results. They braved the heat and humidity to complete the 5k run, 40k bike, and 10k run. Dan Edwards crossed the finish line at 2:21:18, in 139th place out of the individual competitors, and 11th in his division. Team Zodiac finished in an outstanding 7th place out of all the teams, with a time of 2:21:27. They were awarded a trophy for finishing 3rd in their division. Andrea Manning completed the triathlon with a time of 3:09:20, finishing 55th in her division.

ESCO began fund-raising for CHOP in 2005. Dan Edwards, a triathlon competitor that year, sought donations and pledges from ESCO employees, and the company matched the employee contribution. This continued in 2006, with growing support. The next year, Spencer Hoos, President and CEO of ESCO, as well as EMAS Division President Peter Mahal, encouraged employee participation in the triathlon as part of a company community service initiative. Employee athletic participation and volunteer work continues to increase dramatically. In 2010, ESCO once again worked with CHOP via Dr. Susan R. Rheingold, Medical Director, CHOP Outpatient Oncology Program. This year, ESCO raised an unprecedented amount of money—over $13,000--and many volunteers contributed hours of service to a great cause. The 2010 event has set record highs for both money raised and participation.

ESCO's Dan Edwards poses with Dr. Susan R. Rheingold and CHOP officials during Sunday's event.

Special thanks go out to our participating supplier companies who made generous donations: Henry J Stewart, Murdock Webbing Co., Inc., Kaman Industrial Technology Corp., Akron Porcelain & Plastics Co., Transmission Engineering Co., Inc. (TECO), Fastbolt, Allied Wire, Ephrata Precision Parts, Inc., Straight Line Transportation, Inc., and Graybar. These companies made a total donation of $1,800.

In addition to ESCO’s financial contribution, the company purchased food and refreshments for this event, enabling us all to stay awake, full, and focused while volunteering. We would also like to thank The Wawa store, Rt. 452, Aston, PA, for donating coffee.

The Phila. Triathlon/CHOP event is one of the major events on ESCO’s community service calendar. ESCO support in the form of sponsorships, volunteers and contributions also include: the American Heart Association Blood Drive, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Toys for Tots, as well as many other events.

Engineered Arresting Systems Corporation (ESCO) is a member of Zodiac Aerospace’s Emergency Arresting Systems Division (EASD). ESCO is the world’s leading manufacturer of military and commercial aircraft arresting systems, and is also active in the perimeter security and unmanned system launch & recovery area.

ESCO headquarters is situated in Aston, PA. At this location, ESCO’s military aircraft arresting systems (as well as other mechanical products) are engineered and manufactured. At ESCO-ZA’s Logan Township, NJ location, EMASMAX, which is Engineered Material Arresting Systems product used to safely stop commercial aircraft in overrun situations, is manufactured.

Links:

Philadelphia InsuranceTriathlon

Cancer Center, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia