AirWorx's coloured boom lift helping to raise autism awareness

Two US companies are working together to raise over USD7,000 a year to raise awareness about autism using a bright yellow 86-foot boom lift with red and blue jigsaw-piece graphics.

AirWorx Construction Equipment and Supply, an equipment rental, sales and service company, and JLG Industries will donate a percentage of the rental income from the boom lift to fund autism-related activities.

AirWorx vice president Scott Huggins was inspired to do something to help after reading about an Iowa company which was raising funds for breast cancer awareness from its rental equipment (Forkliftaction.com News #371). He approached Tim Morris, JLG's vice president, to see what the two companies could do together for the cause. Both families have a child affected by autism.

AirWorx purchased the boom lift for its rental fleet and JLG painted it. The jigsaw graphic covers the entire surface of the machine to symbolise the pieces of the autism puzzle.

Twenty percent of the rental income is donated to the Autism Society of America and for a scholarship to The Independence Academy, a new school in Indianapolis that specialises in education for middle and high school students with high-functioning autism.

Rental customers can choose to contribute an additional amount with 100% of that going directly to autism-related programs.

Customers who rent the machine will have the company name, project name and amount of money raised printed on a label that will be placed on top of one of the jigsaw pieces on the machine.