Pittsburgh, Pa., June 12, 2001 - The Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation (PGSF) recently named John W. Dreyer chairman of a steering committee for its Campaign for the 21st Century. The former chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Pitman Company, Totowa, New Jersey, is the second chairman of PGSF's aggressive fund-raising drive that enters its second year of activity. The campaign is aimed at raising PGSF's endowed fund from $5 million to $10 million in the next few years, and continuing toward the ultimate objective of $20 million in the near future. "These funds will allow PGSF to give larger stipends to more students, and we're counting on all companies, organizations, and individuals to step up and support the future of our industry," said Dreyer. The number one problem facing our industry is not the economy, sales, energy issues, healthcare, digital printing, or the Internet's effect on the industry. According to a survey by PIA's Economic and Research Department, the leading obstacle of printers is finding talented employees. As many as 33 to 38 percent of respondents, quarter after quarter for the past two years, have expressed difficulty in filling all positions-from press operators to presidents. "And yet PGSF had to deny financial assistance to over 1,250 interested students this year due to lack of funds," Dreyer continued. Following in the footsteps of the campaign's first chairman, Calvin W. Aurand, chief executive officer of Premier Print Holdings in Charlotte, North Carolina, Dreyer will work with the campaign's honorary chairman, Harold Gegenheimer, chairman emeritus of Baldwin Technology Company in Mystic, Connecticut. The members of the special steering committee to guide the fund-raising drive are: * Raymond Hartman, senior vice president, manufacturing technology and efficiencies at Moore Corporation, Stamford, Connecticut; * Ronald Mihills, managing director of the Research & Engineering Council in White Stone, Virginia; * Gerald Nathe, chairman and president of Baldwin Americas, Inc. in Shelton, Connecticut; * Karl Schoettle, independent industry consultant, in Dedham, Massachusetts; * Lawrence C. Warter, director, new business development for Fuji Photo Film USA, Inc. in Hanover Park, Illinois and PGSF chairman; * Joan Weisman, president and COO of The Sheridan Press in Hanover, Pennsylvania; * John Werner, publisher/editor of the Graphic Communications World (a.k.a. The Green Sheet) published from Hartsdale, New York; and * John Wurst, chairman of the board of Henry Wurst, Inc. in North Kansas City, Missouri and immediate past chairman of PGSF. "This committee is charged with the task of convincing the industry that we must pull together to provide a better work force for tomorrow," said Dreyer. Since launching the campaign in November 1999, PGSF has received over $1.5 million in new pledges. Many new companies, groups, and individuals have recently joined the top-tiered levels of giving. Currently there are 13 members of the Gutenberg Society, honoring gifts of $100,000 or more; 16 members of the Senefelder Society, honoring gifts of $50,000$99,999; and 57 members of the Print Heritage Society, honoring gifts of $25,000$49,999. PGSF is a nonprofit organization. All contributions are tax-deductible. For information about contributing or establishing a scholarship, please contact PGSF by phoning 800/910-GATF, extension 309, faxing 412/741-2311, emailing [email protected], or by writing PGSF, 200 Deer Run Road, Sewickley, PA 15143-2600. Headquartered near Pittsburgh, Pa. and affiliated with the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation, PGSF is a 45-year-old nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the graphic communications industry by providing scholarship assistance.