Mannington honors three women
for 'Standing on a Better World'

Mannington has announced the winners of its first Stand On A Better World Awards, which was launched this year to recognize women in distinct areas of public service. The winners are Deborah Bell of Gilmer, Texas; Kip Tiernan of Boston; and Sharen Trembath of Angola, N.Y. The three women won a total of $45,000 to be given to the charities of their choosing and will each also receive Mannington flooring in their homes. Additionally, five finalists were each awarded $1,000 to be donated to charity.

Bell is a nurse practitioner who co-founded Refuge International, a non-profit organization that brings healthcare, nutrition, fresh water and education programs to underdeveloped areas. Tiernan established a homeless shelter in the Boston area that has grown to include adult education and a Women's Craft Cooperative. Trembath's focus was on the environment. She helped launch the Great Lakes Beach Sweep 17 years ago. She and her group of 2,300 volunteers have removed nearly 27,000 pounds of trash from the Lake Erie Shoreline and surrounding watersheds.

Judges for the awards included former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, who also presented the awards at a ceremony in Philadelphia, pioneering astronaut Sally Ride and soccer standout Mia Hamm.

For nomination forms and rules for the 2006 Stand on a Better World Awards, visit www.standonabetterworld.com. Any U.S. or Canadian woman is eligible to be nominated, Mannington says.