Skip Bertman calls BASF’s United Way givers ‘heroes’
Helps kickoff United Way fundraising drive at company’s Geismar site

GEISMAR, La., October 21, 2004 -- Autographing baseballs and using sports analogies, Louisiana State University (LSU) Athletic Director Skip Bertman helped kick off the United Way fundraising drive at BASF’s Geismar site.

“Greatness is people helping people. It is what Americans do best. They are heroes like you,” Bertman told an audience of BASF employees.

Bertman, who coached the LSU baseball team to five national championships prior to being appointed athletic director, is chairman of the 2004 United Way fundraising drive in the Baton Rouge area, which includes Ascension Parish.

Mike Cohen, Senior Vice President and General Manager of BASF’s Geismar site, said company employees have always been generous givers to United Way.

“We look forward to a successful fundraising drive at the site. We want to show Skip Bertman that we can hit a home run for United Way,” said Cohen, who introduced Bertman to the employee gathering.

Members of BASF’s Geismar site’s United Way committee are Walt Spelying, chairman, Terri Barber, Suzanne Berthelot and Leona Fletcher.

The Capital Area United Way is a non-profit organization that raises money to provide support to its 54 member agencies in the 10-parish Capital Area, which includes Ascension Parish. It was recently ranked as the number one United Way program in the nation for its efficient and effective spending. For more information on CAUW and its member agencies, visit its Web site at www.cauw.org.

BASF’s Geismar site manufactures a wide range of chemicals used in hundreds of consumer products.

For more information, contact:
Helen Cane
BASF
Tel: (225) 339-7207
E-mail: caneh@basf.com