Nearly $1 Million Contribution Of Briggs & Stratton Storm Generators And Pressure Washers Help American Red Cross "Get Ahead Of The Storm"

MILWAUKEE, May 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Briggs & Stratton Corporation (NYSE: BGG) and the American Red Cross today announced that Briggs & Stratton will deliver nearly $1 million of donated generators and pressure washers to 183 American Red Cross chapters nationwide, allowing areas prone to hurricanes, tornadoes and other severe weather to be ready for recovery efforts before disasters hit. The announcement comes just three days before the start of the 2012 hurricane season, which begins June 1.

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"Briggs & Stratton's donation of generators and pressure washers will help our chapters all over the country prepare for and respond to disasters by providing tools our teams can use to be ready to deliver critical services," said Jerry DeFrancisco, president, humanitarian services of the American Red Cross.  "The key to disaster relief is rapid deployment of assistance, and Briggs & Stratton's generous contribution will help us meet immediate electricity needs after power outages and greatly enhance and quicken clean-up efforts. Briggs & Stratton has been providing durable, reliable products for over 100 years and we are grateful for this."

The Briggs & Stratton contribution includes nearly 850 5500W Storm Responder Generators and more than 480 pressure washers. The equipment is already arriving at Red Cross chapters in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, South Carolina, Virginia and San Juan, Puerto Rico.  An additional fall shipment will go to chapters in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Hampshire and more.

"We are proud to join with the American Red Cross and its incredible team of 650,000 volunteers to provide them with this outdoor power equipment that will be quickly accessible to help people in the event of severe weather," said Todd Teske, Chairman, President & CEO of Briggs & Stratton Corporation. "We have a history of teaming with the American Red Cross through volunteer efforts and contributions and we are proud to expand upon that relationship with this effort.  Today's announcement builds upon our commitment to our communities and helps ensure our equipment will be there well in advance of severe weather.  Briggs & Stratton and the American Red Cross are joining together to get ahead of the storm."

The equipment contribution was announced in Milwaukee, Wis., home of Briggs & Stratton and the American Red Cross in Southeastern Wisconsin, one of the chapter recipients.  The partnership is part of the American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program.  More information can be found at briggsandstratton.com and via Facebook and Twitter.

Briggs & Stratton Corporation, headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is the world's largest producer of gasoline engines for outdoor power equipment. Its wholly owned subsidiary Briggs & Stratton Power Products Group LLC is North America's number one manufacturer of portable generators and pressure washers, and is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of standby generators, along with lawn and garden and turf care through its Simplicity®, Snapper®, Ferris® and Murray® brands.  Briggs & Stratton products are designed, manufactured, marketed and serviced in over 100 countries on six continents.

SOURCE Briggs & Stratton Corporation