HON Honeywell International Inc

OFUNATO, IWATE, Japan, Oct. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Honeywell (NYSE: HON) announced today that it will begin construction on an elder care community center, the Honeywell Ibasho House, in Ofunato, Iwate, to provide support for residents affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.

The Honeywell Humanitarian Relief Fund, a component of Honeywell Hometown Solutions, will build the Honeywell Ibasho House to support Ofunato elders, helping them to find their "ibasho," a place where one feels at home.

Scheduled to open in Spring 2013, the Honeywell Ibasho House is designed by Professor Suguru Mori with the Laboratory of Architecture and Planning at Hokkaido University using contemporary and sustainable building methods that can withstand future earthquakes.

"Honeywell is committed to helping Japan rebuild," said Tom Buckmaster, President of Honeywell Hometown Solutions. "Working in partnership with Mayor Toda of Ofunato, we're confident that this center will help the community recover and flourish with healthcare, social programs and overall community resources for elders."

"Approximately 30 percent of Ofunato's population is now 65 years old or older," said Mayor Toda.  "With all of the changes that have taken place in the Japanese culture since the earthquake, it is critical that we find resources to help our elders find resources and support their recovery within a community of people of all ages."

The Honeywell Ibasho House will be built with project support from Operation USA, an international relief agency that helps communities overcome the effects of disasters, disease and endemic poverty by providing privately-funded relief, reconstruction and development aid.

"Honeywell's support and partnership helps us achieve meaningful relief efforts like this critical community center in Japan," said Richard Walden, President and CEO, Operation USA.  "We are thrilled to have a partner that is consistently involved in every aspect of our shared relief efforts. Honeywell brings a steadfast commitment which will help the Ofunato community recover."

The concept was developed by gerontology specialist, Dr. Emi Kiyota Ibasho.org, an organization focused on connecting communities with its elders, Tenjin-kai, led by Dr. Yukimi Uchide, a social welfare foundation, and Ito-Gumi, a local construction company, are also helping to make the project possible.

Once completed, the center will be managed by non-profit organization Ibasho Sozo Project. Local schools and universities will be engaged to provide multi-generational interaction and establish support systems for the residents.

Honeywell has provided relief to Japan following the Great East Japan Earthquake in several ways. Honeywell Life Safety donated safety gloves and other personal protective equipment for workers removing rubble in distressed areas. Honeywell's UOP provided the adsorbent ion exchange products used by Toshiba Corporation and Shaw Global Services to clean up radiation-contaminated water at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Honeywell also provided its T-Hawk™ unmanned micro air vehicles, which were used to fly over effected areas in search and rescue missions. 

Honeywell International (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes, and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; and performance materials. Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell's shares are traded on the New York, London, and Chicago Stock Exchanges. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywellnow.com.

Honeywell Hometown Solutions, the company's corporate citizenship initiative, focuses on five areas of vital importance: Family Safety & Security, Housing & Shelter, Science & Math Education, Habitat & Conservation, and Humanitarian Relief. Together with leading public and non-profit institutions, Honeywell has developed powerful programs to address these needs in the communities it serves. For more information, please visit www.honeywell.com/citizenship.

This release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that we or our management intends, expects, projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based upon certain assumptions and assessments made by our management in light of their experience and their perception of historical trends, current economic and industry conditions, expected future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate. The forward-looking statements included in this release are also subject to a number of material risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to economic, competitive, governmental, and technological factors affecting our operations, markets, products, services and prices. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results, developments and business decisions may differ from those envisaged by such forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Honeywell