Leggett & Platt contributes $1 million to Joplin tornado relief

Add Carthage-based Leggett & Platt to the companies, including Wal-Mart and TAMKO, that are contributing $1 million to Joplin tornado relief. From the news release:

Leggett & Platt, Incorporated today pledged to donate $1 million toward tornado relief for the Joplin community. As one of the largest employers in the area, the Carthage-based company has many employees who sustained significant personal loss in the unprecedented storm that leveled a large section of neighboring Joplin, MO.


"We are grieving with our fellow partners who lost loved ones and homes in this horrific storm," said David Haffner, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We are still gathering information on the losses sustained by those employees who were in the path of the storm. At this point, we know of at least 35 families who lost everything, and we mourn the death of one employee partner."

According to Haffner, the company will direct the donation to local agencies to benefit Joplin residents.

"Leggett & Platt has been a part of this community for more than 128 years," Haffner said. "Our roots include multi-generation employees, customers, and business colleagues. We want to help."

The company immediately offered assistance to local storm shelters, and employees are volunteering in numerous relief efforts.

"We have encouraged our employees to help in whatever way they can," said Karl Glassman, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. "In every department and plant, Leggett people have rallied to support their colleagues. Just like other area companies, we are experiencing an outpouring of generosity from every corner of the company as our employees take good care of each other."