"Bad news travels like wildfire, good news travels slow." Maybe you've heard that song by Whitey Morgan and the 78s.

We aim to make you aware of the good news a little faster, so we bring you another edition of Added Values, an occasional series celebrating our industry's charitable side.

Caterpillar Foundation

Venezuela has been a mess in general but the June 24th back-to-back earthquakes were dowright devastating.

In response to the disaster, the Caterpillar Foundation announced a $250,000 donation to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s (CDP) Global Recovery Fund to support rapid response and long-term recovery in Venezuela. 

CDP is collaborating with local non-governmental organizations to deploy immediate needs, including food and water, medical supplies, temporary housing, relief kits, and more.  

“Our thoughts are with the people and communities of Venezuela who have been impacted by this devastating earthquake,” said Asha Varghese, president of the Caterpillar Foundation.

“The loss and disruption caused by disasters like this can be overwhelming, and recovery often requires sustained support from many collaborators. The Caterpillar Foundation is committed to standing with communities during times of crisis, and this donation will help provide critical relief and assistance to those affected.

The Foundation is also a member of the American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program. This $1 million annual investment helps the Red Cross preposition supplies before a disaster strikes and provide emergency response after a crisis occurs.

The Caterpillar Foundation’s commitment also extends to Red Cross International Services. These vital funds support coordinating with the global Red Cross and Red Crescent network to prepare for and respond to emergencies wherever and whenever they occur. Currently, the global Red Cross network is on the ground supporting the Venezuela earthquake response.

"Pink-Belt"

Everyone notices heavy equipment or trucks painted pink.

Link-Belt Excavator Company (LBX) recently held an event to honor individuals and organizations supporting breast cancer awareness.

Pink-Belt, the 15.2-metric-ton Link-Belt 145 X4 excavator that traveled across the United States for the past year to support breast cancer awareness, was there. It was sold to Randy Gallegos of Rasmussen Equipment.

During the event, donations were presented to National Breast Cancer Foundation and Yes, Mamm! Program of Saint Joseph Health Foundation.

You may recall that Pink-Belt was auctioned at Conexpo 2026 in March, rainsing $220,000 for the cause. Additional fundraising efforts included a $2,000 contribution from Jade Shank and a $10,000 donation from Jay Shafer of Shafer Equipment Company.

“Breast cancer awareness and the search for a cure are causes that are deeply important to Rasmussen Equipment,” says Gallegos. “We are proud to support LBX and its partners in helping fund programs that make a difference for individuals and families affected by breast cancer.”

Trailer for a Cause

Felling Trailers will hold its 14th annual Trailer for a Cause online auction Sept. 24th–30th, 2026, with proceeds benefiting Henry’s Heroes, a Central Minnesota-based nonprofit that supports families navigating the emotional and financial challenges of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) journey.

This year’s auction features the company’s largest capacity Trailer for a Cause to date: a custom FT-12 Pan drop deck trailer with an overall deck length of 22 feet and a payload capacity of 11,100 pounds. The Pan trailer has been painted charcoal metallic gray with a custom “Henry’s Heroes” purple stripe and white pinstriping on the sides, and it bears the Henry’s Heroes emblem.

Felling Trailers’ goal is to raise awareness of the valuable work Henry’s Heroes does for the families and community members it serves throughout Central Minnesota and beyond.      

Where to bid: Online only, at felling.com/our-company/trailer-for-a-cause.

"Over the past several years, we kept hearing the same request from auction participants: they wanted to see a bigger, more versatile trailer up for bid," says Pat Jennissen, Felling Trailers VP of Sales & Marketing.

"This year, we listened. We moved up from our FT-3, with its 1,800-pound capacity, to the FT-12 Pan, which offers an impressive 11,100-pound capacity. It's our hope that this change will generate even more excitement and participation and ultimately result in a higher winning bid for Henry's Heroes."