Curtis Osborne, a journeyman plumber with W.J. Borghoff Plumbing in Henderson, Nevada, won a $5,000 Series EE U.S. Patriot Savings Bond, the Grand Prize in the recently concluded INVEST IN AMERICA SWEEPSTAKES & REWARDS PROGRAM. Held from April 1 through June 30 this year, the promotion also had two First Prize winners and three Second Prize winners:

• First Prize: Michael Behr, president of Joe Behr Plumbing in Lexington, Ohio; and James B. Grinna, president of Vick’s Heating, Plumbing & Vent Inc. in Decorah, Iowa, each won $1,000 Series EE U.S. Patriot Savings Bond.

• Second Prize: Michael J. Castille Sr, owner of Mike Castille Plumbing in Rayne, Louisiana; Jerry Gunning, owner of Gunning Plumbing in San Diego; and Jerald Whipkey, owner of Whipkey HVAC in Moundsville, West Virginia, each won a $500 Series EE U.S. Patriot Savings Bond.

• a national sweepstakes in which participants could win Patriot Savings Bonds of varying denominations, as described above;

• a frequent-buyer program through which contractors could earn points by purchasing residential and commercial Rheem Water Heaters during the promotion. The program targeted better-grade residential and commercial models, but virtually every water heater in the Rheem line carried a point reward. At the close of the 90-day program, contractors were able to redeem their accumulated points for $100 Patriot Bonds or for an assortment of attractive Rheem wearables, including caps, T-shirts, golf shirts, denim shirts and windshirts — all marked with Rheem’s distinctive “Plumbers Pride/Doing It Right” logo.

“INVEST IN AMERICA was one of several Plumbers Pride initiatives we launched in 2002 to demonstrate our company’s support for the plumbing contractor and the invaluable contribution he makes to the health and welfare of our nation,” says Rheem Water Heaters vice president of marketing David R. Martin. “Rheem values the relationships we have built over the years with plumbing contractors nationwide through our local distributors. Win-and-earn programs like INVEST IN AMERICA help keep those relationships strong and mutually productive.”

RHEEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY, headquartered in New York City, is a leading producer of residential and commercial water heaters, with manufacturing operations on three continents. In addition to Rheem and Ruud brand water heaters for the wholesale channel, the company also makes and markets pool and spa heaters, boilers, and heating and air-conditioning products.