The Water Quality Research Council (WQRC) has changed its name to better reflect its purpose; it now is the Water Quality Research Foundation (WQRF). In addition, on the occasion of its 50th anniversary, the WQRF is announcing a new million-dollar endowment drive that will officially kick off at the 30th Annual WQA Convention, March 16-20, in Baltimore.

“The Foundation supports the research that proves to consumers and to legislators that our industry's water treatment products benefit and provide real value to all water customers. Research we support also opens new doors for the industry and substantiates with unbiased studies the efficacy of our systems,” says WQRF board president Jack Lorenzen. “Without the funding to support that research, our industry must inevitably wither and die away. That's why we're launching this effort in these challenging times; the WQRF wants to help you protect - and expand - the future of your business and your industry. We want the Water Quality Research Foundation to be the foundation of your future.”

Four donation brackets have been designated: Bronze ($5,000), Silver ($15,000), Gold ($25,000) and Platinum ($50,000). In addition to plaques and publicity related to gifts, artwork will be commissioned for use on donor stationery and other company publications - including Web sites. All donors also will be recognized at the WQA Annual Convention.

The original WQRC was formed in 1949 to serve, on behalf of the Water Quality Association, as a universally recognized, independent research organization to conduct and fund scientific research on subjects relating to the water quality improvement industry. WQRC qualified as a charitable Internal Revenue Code (IRC) 501(c)(3) public charity for federal income, estate and gift tax purposes - that remains in effect for the WQRF. All contributions to WQRF, most of which are tax-deductible, go into the Foundation's Research Fund. These monies provide the Foundation with a source of funding critical to continuing education and scientific research in the point-of-use/point-of-entry (POU/POE) industry. WQRF raises funds through donations, money willed in estates, insurance policies naming WQRF as the benefactor, through an annual golf and tennis outing held at the WQA Mid-Year Leadership Conference - and now, via the endowment drive.