COOKEVILLE – Research Electronics International (REI) President Tom Jones announced today the company will donate $20,000 to the Cookeville-Putnam County Tornado Relief Fund, to help victims of the March 3 tornado that hit Middle Tennessee. Additionally, Victor H. Mendelson, Co-President and Chief Executive Officer for HEICO Corporation’s Electronics Technology Group, REI’s parent company since June 2019, announced it will make a matching donation of $20,000.
The fund was established to provide direct financial support to the victims of the tornado in the Cookeville-Putnam County area. The EF-4 tornado that caused 18 fatalities and tremendous damage throughout Middle Tennessee struck the area in the early morning hours, catching many people by surprise.
“We have many friends and neighbors throughout this community who are really hurting from this tragedy, and we feel this is one of the ways we can help contribute to healing and rebuilding,” Jones said. “The people of Middle Tennessee have shown tremendous character in the aftermath of this disaster with the turnout for relief efforts, and we know they are just beginning.”
REI has been designing and manufacturing electronic security products in Cookeville for 37 years and has become a world leader in Technical Surveillance Countermeasures equipment. REI joined HEICO Corporation in 2019 as a member of its Electronics Technology Group. HEICO Corporation has subsidiaries throughout the aviation, defense, space, medical, telecommunications and electronics industries. As a worldwide company, HEICO Corporation appreciates and encourages community involvement, and is pleased to support the people of Putnam County in this time of need.
The Cookeville-Putnam County Tornado Relief Fund will be administered through the Bank of Putnam County. Donations can be made online at putnamcountytn.gov/relief/.
To donate by mail, make check payments to Cookeville-Putnam County Tornado Relief Fund and mail to: Bank of Putnam County P.O. Box 2809 Cookeville, TN 38502.
