WARRENVILLE, Ill. — Navistar has donated a used step van valued at $20,000 to HERO (Hale Empowerment and Revitalization Organization Inc.) to assist the organization in its rebuilding efforts in the wake of devastating tornadoes that swept through Alabama.

Navistar has significant operations in the state. Alan Stegich, national service director for Navistar’s Workhorse custom products business unit, and Andrea Clay, Workhorse legal and consumer affairs manager, recently presented the vehicle’s keys to HERO Executive Director Pam Dorr.

“This donation is a small token of how Navistar and Workhorse are giving back to the areas where employees live and work,” said William Osborne, vice president, custom products, Navistar.  “We are committed to ensuring the community succeeds in its rebuilding efforts.”

Dorr said that the tornadoes were very damaging to Hale County, were HERO is based, and that the donation will help the organization begin the process of rebuilding. 

The donation of the vehicle is in addition to $50,000 that Navistar provided to the Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund, which was established by Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley to help Alabama residents with unmet recovery needs.

Donations to the fund will be used to relieve suffering caused by the spring storms. The fund, which is administered by the United Ways of Alabama, will operate on an ongoing basis to help Alabama residents who have exhausted all other avenues of disaster relief, such as FEMA, the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army.

In addition to the vehicle and monetary donations, employees at Navistar’s Melrose Park engine plant secured generators to assist employees at Navistar’s Huntsville engine plant when they were without power.

“Our hearts go out to the people of Alabama whose lives have been impacted by the worst domestic disaster since Hurricane Katrina,” said Eric Tech, president, Navistar Engine Group. “We believe in being a good neighbor wherever we do business and we are proud to step up and help the community in a great time of need.”