South Jordan, Utah (Jan. 15, 2014) - The Kennecott Charitable Foundation donated $200,000 to support more than 80 local community charities in December.  The Foundation is organized as a non-profit entity giving funds exclusively for public welfare, community improvement and charitable purposes, which is limited to providing help to the underprivileged in Utah. 

The Foundation raises money for local charities through tax-deductible entrance fees to the Bingham Canyon Mine Visitors Center. The Visitor Center was relocated and did not open for the 2013 season due to the 165-million-ton landslide at the Bingham Canyon Mine in April 2013. Donations were subsidized by Rio Tinto Kennecott and Caterpillar Inc., which contributed $50,000 to the Charitable Foundation that was delivered through Wheeler Machinery Co.  

"We were happy to support Kennecott's efforts to improve the lives of those less fortunate because we have a similar passion to help people," said Rob Campbell, president, Wheeler Machinery Co. "It is a wonderful feeling for our company and our associates to know that we are making a difference in our community."

Since the inception of the charity fund in 1992, the Foundation has donated more than $3 million to local community charities and non-profit organizations, and hosted 3.2 million visitors to the Bingham Canyon Mine Visitors Center. 

The Foundation touches the lives of people of all different ages and walks of life. This includes charities focusing on children, veterans, disabled, homeless and senior citizens throughout the state. The Foundation consists of nine trustees who represent the greater Salt Lake area and Rio Tinto Kennecott.  Trustees representing local government, education, religion, community and Rio Tinto Kennecott volunteer their time to help the Foundation positively impact local charities.

"Rio Tinto Kennecott has demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting our local communities through the Charitable Foundation," said Ted Himebaugh, president, Kennecott Charitable Foundation.  "The Charitable Foundation also provides a way for us to continue assisting the underprivileged in the future."

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About Rio Tinto Kennecott
As the second largest copper producer in the United States, Rio Tinto Kennecott comprises nearly 25 percent of U.S. copper production. Kennecott's Bingham Canyon Mine is one of the top producing copper mines in the world with production at more than 19 million tons. In 2012, Kennecott produced 179,317 tons of copper, 279,200 ounces of gold, 2.4 million ounces of silver, and 20 million pounds of molybdenum. Rio Tinto purchased Kennecott and related facilities in 1989 and has invested more than $2 billion in modernization since that time. Kennecott has also spent more than $350 million on the cleanup of historic mining waste and $100 million on groundwater cleanup. Rio Tinto employs 2,800 people and influences more than 14,000 indirect Utah jobs. In 2011, Kennecott invested $1.2 billion in the state of Utah in wages, benefits, taxes and purchases from nearly 1,000 Utah area businesses. Take a closer look at kennecott.com.

About Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the United Kingdom, combining Rio Tinto plc, a London and NYSE listed company, and Rio Tinto Limited, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

Rio Tinto's business is finding, mining, and processing mineral resources. Major products are aluminum, copper, diamonds, energy (coal and uranium), gold, industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide, salt, talc) and iron ore. Activities span the world but are strongly represented in Australia and North America with significant businesses in South America, Asia, Europe and Southern Africa. www.riotinto.com

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