PPG Helps Commemorate Anniversary of Apollo 11 Moon Landing
HUNTSVILLE, AL – PPG announced the completion of a COLORFUL COMMUNITIES® project to revitalize the Saturn V rocket replica displayed at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center (USSRC) in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. The project brought together approximately 150 employee volunteers from PPG, USSRC and Boeing, who spent a half day in March painting sections of the Saturn V replica and other highly visited areas around the center. The project continued through June with the support of professional contractors and was completed in advance of the anniversary celebrations.
The Colorful Communities program provides PPG volunteers and paint products along with financial contributions to bring color and vitality to communities where the company operates around the world, such as in Huntsville, Alabama, where PPG operates an aerospace transparencies manufacturing facility.
The 1950s and 1960s represented a time of exploration and innovation in the United States. When President John F. Kennedy issued a challenge to land a man on the moon, Americans across the nation rose to the mission – especially in Huntsville. Often referred to as Rocket City U.S.A., Huntsville was key to the development of the propulsion systems on the Saturn V rocket that would take the U.S. to the moon. Today, the National Historic Landmark Saturn V and the stunning 363-foot-tall (111-meter-tall) Saturn V replica rocket at USSRC serve as regional icons and signify the entrepreneurial spirit ignited by mid-century space exploration.
PPG provided approximately 340 gallons (1,287 liters) of specialized products from its protective and marine, aerospace and architectural coatings businesses to complete the project. The PPG Foundation also granted $15,000 to USSRC for AVIATION CHALLENGE® scholarships.
“At PPG, we know the powerful difference a fresh coat of paint and color can make in our homes, workplaces and schools. To experience the impact of fresh paint on such a monumental and historic structure as the Saturn V replica is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Tom Meyer, PPG Plant Manager, Huntsville. “We are proud to help carry the Saturn V replica into the future to inspire the next generation of explorers and scientists.”
The Colorful Communities program, PPG’s signature initiative for supporting communities, aims to protect and beautify the neighborhoods where PPG operates around the world. Through the Colorful Communities program, PPG’s committed volunteers contribute their time and PPG paint products to help transform community assets – from painting classrooms, to bringing color to a maternity ward and redesigning a playground. Since 2015, PPG has completed more than 200 Colorful Communities projects, impacting more than 5.2 million people in 30 countries.
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