Woodcraft Launches Fresh Wood Donation Program

5/4/2012 11:48:56 AM

Article by Staff

Woodcraft has implemented a donation program on its online store for the purpose of raising money for the Fresh Wood student woodworking competition. Online shoppers can add a donation of any amount to their cart at checkout, 100 percent of which will go directly to Fresh Wood. The funds will be shared between offsetting operational costs and offering students and teachers who participate in the contest more prizes. Woodcraft will announce the total amount collected at the AWFS Fair, July 24-27, 2013.

The Fresh Wood student woodworking competition began in 1999 as a part of the AWFS Fair, held every odd-numbered year in Las Vegas. It is one of the only national woodworking competitions for both high school and post-secondary students. Students enter a woodworking piece built in the past two years and the finalist projects are put on display at the AWFS Fair, where the final judging is performed and the winners are announced. Projects in the past have included guitars, pool tables, beds, drums and innovative tables and chairs. Students win cash prizes and their pieces are showcased in the hardcover publication, fresh wood.

Since its inception, hundreds of students have experienced the AWFS Fair through their participation in Fresh Wood. The experience has led to expanded perceptions of the woodworking industry, networking opportunities with industry professionals, and even further education and careers for some. AWFS Executive Director Angelo Gangone explains, "Fresh Wood is a tangible representation of our efforts in supporting industry education programs. We want to give students the chance to see the opportunities within our industry, and we want industry to connect with the amazing training programs and meet the students within them."

The concept behind the donation program was the brainchild of long-time Fresh Wood supporter Steve Mangano, president of Rikon Power Tools and Jody Garrett, president of Woodcraft. "Fresh Wood is a valuable program that benefits everyone in our industry - companies, professionals, students, teachers, schools - it's not just some small aspect of the AWFS Fair, it's become a critical way to publicize and promote student work and it visibly represents where our industry is headed in the future," says Mangano, "We can all get behind that message and come up with creative ways to support it."

Currently, donations can only be made on www.Woodcraft.com, but a similar in-store program is under consideration. For more information on Fresh Wood, go to www.AWFSFair.org.