ST. LOUIS (Nov. 18, 2015) –The Doe Run Company (Doe Run) donated $10,000 to the Mineral Area College (MAC) Foundation to support career and technical education programs offered by the college. The donation qualifies for matching funds through The Simmons Memorial Match and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The donation qualifies for up to $1 to $1 matching funds from the Simmons Memorial Match program, and $3 to $1 matching funds from the DESE Match program, with the potential to generate up to $80,000 for the MAC Foundation.

“The mining industry is projected to need 78,000 new workers by 2019 to replace retiring workers and support industry growth,” said Mark Coomes, vice president – human resources and community relations. “By supporting the MAC Foundation, we are helping prepare a future workforce by supporting classroom and laboratory enhancements, scholarships and other MAC strategic initiatives.”

The Simmons Memorial Match Campaign was established in 2010 by former MAC graduates Gayle and Rowena Simmons. Gayle Simmons served as dean of the college in the 1950’s and 1960’s and served on the MAC Foundation Board for 16 years. In 2011, Rowena Simmons passed away and Gayle passed away in January of 2015. The MAC Foundation Board of Directors are continuing the legacy with a tribute Simmons Memorial Campaign in their honor. The board will match 100 percent of the funds donated to the Simmons Memorial Match Campaign until the matching funds are depleted.

DESE will match funds at a three-to-one level.

“With this, our 50th year as Mineral Area College, we are especially grateful to donors like Doe Run for their financial support and belief in higher education,” said Dr. Steven Kurtz, MAC president. “Their funds will, with the match from DESE, exponentially impact our programs and the students in them, in terms of quantity, quality and reach for years to come.”

Over 4,000 southeast Missouri residents attend classes at MAC in Park Hills, Missouri, to further their education. The community college offers 34 associate degree programs and 24 credit-bearing certification programs to prepare students for employment in a wide variety of areas, as well as general education courses for students interested in pursuing a variety of academic majors. Programs that most closely align with Doe Run employment needs include construction/building technology, electrical and electronics technology, industrial maintenance, and machine tool technology, among others.

Doe Run focuses much of its community support on education. The company provides scholarships to MAC as well as the Missouri University of Science and Technology. The company also provides summer internships for students studying engineering, metallurgy, geology and other degrees.

About the MAC Foundation
In 1983, a group of civic-minded individuals possessed the vision to create MAC Foundation as the preferred giving channel for Mineral Area College. For three decades, alumni and friends have partnered with the Foundation to support quality, affordable higher education to strengthen the students and communities MAC serves. Gifts support scholarships, learning tools and classroom enhancements, and other strategic initiatives in accordance with MAC’s mission. Those interested in learning more can contact MAC Foundation at (573) 518-2114 or visit http://www.mineralarea.edu/AlumniFoundation/foundation.aspx.

About The Doe Run Company
Based in St. Louis, The Doe Run Company is a privately held natural resources company and a global provider of lead, copper and zinc concentrates. Dedicated to environmentally responsible mineral and metal production, Doe Run operates one of the world’s largest, single-site lead recycling centers, located in Boss, Missouri. The Doe Run Company and its subsidiaries deliver products and services necessary to provide power, protection and convenience. Doe Run has operations in Missouri, Washington and Arizona. For more information, visit www.doerun.com and sustainability.doerun.com.

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