Ferguson Home About Us Careers Press Room Contact Us
 

For Immediate Release
October 2007

Ferguson “Fun Phones” to help students learn

Ferguson has joined forces with New Horizons Regional Education Center to make and distribute a unique learning tool free to elementary students across Newport News.

Called “Fun Phones” by Ferguson, the device consists of plastic pipe fitted together in the shape of traditional phone handle. The U-shape design amplifies the sound so that users can hear themselves more clearly than by reading out loud. The Fun Phone allows students to talk quietly into one end and hear themselves clearly through the other end – even in a crowded classroom. As a result, students having difficulty with pronunciation can listen more clearly to their speech pattern.

Educators say the phones, which have been used in Newport News Public Schools on a limited basis:

  • increase reading comprehension
  • help students focus on their pronunciation
  • motivate students to practice oral reading
  • can be used by students in classrooms without disturbing other students
  • improve attention and memory

Although the device is not new, Ferguson has supplied enough pipe to create 3,000 phones to be distributed among elementary class rooms in Newport News. Students from New Horizons will cut the pipe and sand the edges. Then, two Ferguson volunteers will coordinate assistance from community youth volunteers to assemble the finished product (www.pointsoflight.org). 

“Ferguson is honored to donate material to support the Fun Phone project,” said John Stegeman, president and chief executive officer for Ferguson. “This unique partnership utilizes one of Ferguson’s most popular products, PVC pipe, to further our organization’s unwavering commitment to support the communities in which we do business and lend a helping hand to children.”

Newport News Superintendent Dr. Ashby Kilgore praised Ferguson for its ongoing support of public education. “Ferguson has been a strong and consistent partner in helping improve educational opportunities for our students. This new project will help students in one of the most important learning skills – literacy.”  

Once finished, volunteers will bag the Fun Phones in groups of 25 for elementary schools.

Founded in 1953 and headquartered in Newport News, Va., Ferguson is the country's largest wholesale distributor of plumbing supplies; pipes, valves and fittings; heating and cooling equipment; waterworks; mechanical and industrial; bathrooms and appliances; tools and safety equipment; and fire protection products. Ferguson has sales of $11 billion and 23,000 associates in almost 1,400 service centers located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Mexico and the Caribbean. 

Contacts
Patrick Finneran, Director of Community Relations & Legislative Services, NNPS, 757-591-4936 or patrick.finneran@nn.k12.va.us

Lisa Mask, Media Relations Specialist, Ferguson, 757-969-4175 or lisa.mask@ferguson.com

       

###

For further information, contact: communications@ferguson.com

Wolseley
Wolseley plc is the world’s largest specialist trade distributor of plumbing and heating products to professional contractors and a leading supplier of building materials in North America, the UK and Continental Europe. Group revenues for the year ended July 31, 2007 were approximately $31.6 billion. Wolseley has approximately 75,000 employees operating in 27 countries namely: Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Norway, Panama, Poland, Puerto Rico, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Trinidad & Tobago, UK, USA. Wolseley is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: WOS) and is in the FTSE 100 index of listed companies. In the U.S., Wolseley trades on the over-the-counter market (OTC) under the symbol WOSLY.  For more information, visit www.wolseley.com.

Ferguson
Headquartered in Newport News, Va., Ferguson is the country's largest wholesale distributor of plumbing supplies; pipes, valves and fittings; heating and cooling equipment; waterworks; mechanical and industrial; bathrooms and appliances; tools and safety equipment; and fire protection products. Ferguson has sales of $11 billion and around 22,000 associates in over 1,400 service centers located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Mexico and the Caribbean.  For more information, visit www.ferguson.com.

Ferguson is part of Wolseley plc, the world’s largest specialist trade distributor of plumbing and heating products to professional contractors and a leading supplier of building materials in North America, the UK and Continental Europe.  Group revenues for the year ended July 31, 2007, were approximately $31.6 billion. Wolseley has approximately 75,000 employees operating in 27 countries. Wolseley is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: WOS) and is in the FTSE 100 index of listed companies. In the U.S., Wolseley trades on the over-the-counter market (OTC) under the symbol WOSLY. For more information, visit www.wolseley.com.

Wolseley, North American Division
Wolseley plc is the world’s largest specialist trade distributor of plumbing and heating products to professional contractors and a leading supplier of building materials in North America, the UK and Continental Europe. Group revenues for the year ended July 31, 2007, were approximately $31.6 billion. Wolseley has approximately 75,000 employees operating in 27 countries. Wolseley is represented in North America by three businesses, Ferguson, Stock Building Supply and Wolseley Canada. Wolseley is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: WOS) and is in the FTSE 100 index of listed companies. In the U.S., Wolseley trades on the over-the-counter market (OTC) under the symbol WOSLY. For more information, visit www.wolseley.com.

Stock
Raleigh, NC-based Stock Building Supply is the largest supplier of building materials to professional home builders and contractors in the United States. Stock currently operates 299 locations in 34 states, with reported sales of $4.6 million for the fiscal year 2007. For more information visit: www.stockbuildingsupply.com.

[ Back to Ferguson Media Page ]