Plastek honored for public service for school, water projects

Joseph Prischak is a celebrity in Erie, Pa., and his family-owned custom molder, Plastek Industries Inc., is one of the biggest employers in that plastics-centric region.

Prischak's reach has extended beyond the United States, and the plastics industry to include leading an international effort to improve drinking water for people in developing nations.

He was one of the driving forces behind Penn State Erie's vibrant four-year plastics engineering technology program, which had its first graduating class in 1989. Graduates from Penn State Erie often stay in the area — a huge benefit to local plastics companies. That's nearly 1,000 graduates so far.

Prischak liked it so well he founded a similar program at the University of Bratislava, in Slovakia, and at Richmond Community College's main campus in Hamlet, N.C., where the company runs a plant.

And Joe and his wife, Isabel Prischak, donated $1 million for Plastek employees and their families to attend Penn State Erie. They donated another $1 million for students from his high school, Conneaut Valley High School, to attend the school.

Plastek has created apprenticeship programs for toolmakers, and has other internal educational programs for processors, tool repair and machine mechanics.

Those efforts, and more, are why Plastek Industries has won the Plastics News Excellence Award for industry and public service. Joe Prischak deserves credit for extending his reach beyond — sometimes far beyond — plastics, and even the United States.

Plastek supports the traditional community-type events, sponsoring walks for the American Heart Association, Multiple Sclerosis Society, Juvenile Diabetes, American Cancer Society and the March of Dimes. The company sponsors community balls and galas for groups like the American Heart Association and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Scholarship Fund. Support for local education, firefighters, religious organizations, Eagle Scout programs, the local food bank and many others round out the good works.

The Prischak family even started Lake Erie Speedway, a car racing track.

But the creation of Africa 6000 International sets Prischak apart. With the support of family, friends and the company, he started the foundation that has built water wells and supports irrigation projects in Tanzania and Kenya. Contaminated water is a major cause of premature deaths and illness in children. Having fresh water also paves the way for medical clinics and schools.

Plastek's submission for Processor of the Year lists 64 drilled water wells.

Philip Katen, president and general manager of Plastikos Inc. in Erie, had this to say about Joseph Prischak: "His generosity and philanthropy truly is remarkable, and very few have risen to that level."

With the support of family, friends and the company, [Prischak] started the foundation that has built water wells and supports irrigation projects in Tanzania and Kenya. Contaminated water is a major cause of premature deaths and illness in children. Having fresh water also paves the way for medical clinics and schools.