ANN ARBOR, Mich., October 26, 2007 - In just two weeks, employees of ProQuest, the Ann Arbor-based information technology firm for educational and library reference markets, raised $49,500 for the 2007-2008 United Way Campaign.  The company's campaign launched in all US locations on October 1 and finished October 15, with employee and corporate contributions far exceeding the $40,000 goal

So how does a group of employees raise nearly $5,000 per day? "It's not easy, but it is simple," said Rod Gauvin, Senior Vice President at ProQuest. "It's the culture of our company. We are a family-owned company, and the value ProQuest puts on working to make a difference in our communities is as much a part of our business model as making a difference for our customers."

The United Way Workplace Campaign has been a part of ProQuest's annual charitable fund for many years, with contributions for 2006 and 2007 alone reaching over $85,000.  This year, employees banded together to form a committee, host kick-off events and arrange brown bag lunches to raise awareness and encourage participation.   "The vision of the United Way is a terrific fit for us," said Marty Kahn, CEO. "It works to build stronger, healthier, and more compassionate communities; and it meshes perfectly with our commitment to libraries, librarians, and education.  Even in a world that continually grows with globalization, we know that it is important to stay connected to our own piece of it by reaching out to those who need it most."

Other community and charitable initiatives for ProQuest include building and donating a temporary library for Hurricane Katrina communities, participation in the March of Dimes WalkAmerica and Signature Chefs events, the Ann Arbor Symphony, the Susan B. Koman Foundation, the Salvation Army Holiday Event, and the American Red Cross.

About ProQuest
ProQuest creates specialized information resources and technologies that propel successful research, discovery, and lifelong learning. A global leader in serving libraries of all types, ProQuest offers the expertise of such respected brands as Chadwyck-Healey™, UMI®, SIRS®, and eLibrary®. With Serials Solutions®, Ulrich's™, RefWorks®, COS™, Dialog® and now Bowker® part of the ProQuest brand family, the company supports the breadth of the information community with innovative discovery solutions that power the business of books and the best in research experience.

More than a content provider or aggregator, ProQuest is an information partner, creating indispensable research solutions that connect people and information. Through innovative, user-centered discovery technology, ProQuest offers billions of pages of global content that includes historical newspapers, dissertations, and uniquely relevant resources for researchers of any age and sophistication—including content not likely to be digitized by others. Inspired by its customers and their end users, ProQuest is working toward a future that blends information accessibility with community to further enhance learning and encourage lifelong enrichment.

For more information, visit www.proquest.com or the ProQuest parent company website, www.cig.com.