First Donation in Peer Challenge Program

RV/MH Hall of Fame Museum • Library • Hall of Fame • Event Center For Immediate Release

Contact: Darryl Searer RV/MH Hall of Fame 21565 Executive Parkway Elkhart Indiana 46514 800-378-8694 574-293-2344 574-293-3466 (Fax)

CURT Manufacturing Accepts Blue Ox’s Peer Challenge and Contributes $5,000 to RV/MH Hall of Fame

(From Left to Right) Jay Hesse, president, Blue Ox; Mike McKay, vice president of RV and trailer, CURT Manufacturing; and Darryl Searer, president, RV/ MH Hall of Fame, and Lee Adelman, vice president for marketing and e-commerce, CURT Manufacturing)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Mike McKay, vice president of RV and trailer, CURT Manufacturing, LLC (CURT Mfg.), presented a check for $5,000 to the RV/MH Heritage Foundation, Inc.’s, “Burn the Bank Note” fund raiser campaign during a ceremony at the RV/MH Hall of Fame’s (Hall) booth at the 2012 National RV Trade Show in Louisville.

Hall President Darryl Searer accepted the contribution and said, “We are delighted with CURT

21565 Executive Parkway • Elkhart, Indiana 46514 • 800-378-8694 • 574-293-2344 • Fax: 574-293-3466 Web: www.rvmhhalloffame.org • e-mail: [email protected] RV/MH Hall of Fame Museum • Library • Hall of Fame • Event Center Mfg.’s decision to accept the Peer Challenge from Jay Hesse, president of Blue Ox. With CURT Mfg.’s contribution, it means that Blue Ox’s donation has doubled; and furthermore, CURT Mfg. can now challenge other peers to match their donation.”

Hesse, who also serves on the Hall’s executive committee as vice chairman, proposed the Peer Challenge program after making his donation. Hesse said, “I want to personally thank Mike and CURT Mfg. for accepting the Blue Ox challenge. I always believed that there are a lot of companies and individuals in the RV and Manufactured Housing industries that would support the Hall if asked and CURT Mfg.’s donation reinforces that belief.”

Searer added, “When that request to help support the Hall comes from a friend or colleague in these industries, especially ones that believed in the Hall enough to contribute themselves, I think it adds integrity and substance to the request.”

McKay said, “Those of us at CURT Mfg. believe it is important to give back to the industries we serve. Personally, I can think of few worthier causes than the RV/MH Heritage Foundation, an organization that not only celebrates and preserves our heritage and honors those individuals who helped make our industries successful, but also, the Hall itself presents a very positive image to the general public about our products and services.

“When we received Jay’s challenge, it wasn’t a difficult decision for our CEO Greg Hooks to make. He was pleased to help in what he believes is a worthy cause and an opportunity to give something back.”

The goal of the Burn the Bank Note campaign is to raise $150,000 in voluntary contributions by April 30, 2013, to be matched by the Robert “Boots” Ingram family, which has offered a $50,000 challenge grant, and that $200,000 would pay off the Hall’s bank note to 1st Source Bank.

Searer said, “Since the RV/MH Heritage Foundation is a 501-c3 not-for-profit corporation, all donations are tax deductible. Donors can use our federal ID#: 35-1610362.to verify that we are a 501-c3 not-for-profit corporation in good standing with the IRS.

“Gifts may be made by mail, in person at the Hall, by phone at (800) 378-8694, or through the Hall’s web site: www.rvmhhalloffame.org.” --30--

21565 Executive Parkway • Elkhart, Indiana 46514 • 800-378-8694 • 574-293-2344 • Fax: 574-293-3466 Web: www.rvmhhalloffame.org • e-mail: [email protected]