LATROBE, Pa., Feb. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Kennametal Inc. announced today that its U.S. and Canada‑based employees raised over $871,000 in support of its 2012 United Way Campaign, setting  new company records for participation and giving, exceeding the prior year's efforts by $123,000.

"I am extremely proud of our Kennametal team's generosity and willingness to support the many communities in which we work and live," said Kennametal Chairman, President and CEO Carlos Cardoso. "Giving back is something we care very deeply about, whether catering to customers' needs or those of our neighbors, it is embedded in our culture and has been that way for the past 75 years." 

Kennametal's fundraising efforts will benefit United Way agencies throughout the United States. Among highlights of its participation throughout the year:

• More than 1,400 employees pledged $568,000 to the campaign, in addition to participating in numerous fundraising events and volunteer activities such as the United Way's "Day of Caring" community outreach projects;
• The company's annual Strategic Supplier Golf Outing raised over $156,000, including $40,000 given by the Kennametal Foundation; and
• An additional $107,000 in matching gifts from the Richard King Mellon Foundation.

Celebrating its 75^th year as an industrial technology leader, Kennametal Inc. delivers productivity to customers seeking peak performance in demanding environments. The company provides innovative wear-resistant products and application engineering backed by advanced material science, serving customers in 60 countries across diverse sectors of aerospace, earthworks, energy, industrial production, transportation and infrastructure. With approximately 13,000 employees and nearly $3 billion in sales, the company realizes half of its revenue from outside North America, and 40% globally from innovations introduced in the past five years. Recognized among the "World's Most Ethical Companies" (Ethisphere); "Outstanding Corporate Innovator" (Product Development Management Association); and "America's Safest Companies" (EHS Today) with a focus on 100% safety, Kennametal and its foundation invest in technical education, industrial technologies and material science to deliver the promise of progress and economic prosperity to people everywhere. For more information, visit the company's website at www.kennametal.com.

SOURCE Kennametal Inc.