The James D. Wilder Foundation will continue to function under the supervision of the North American Airconditioning & Refrigeration Distributors (HARDI), formed by the North American Heating Refrigeration & Airconditioning Wholesalers (NHRAW) and Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Wholesalers International (ARWI). The Foundation was formerly overseen by NHRAW.
Started in memory of Jim Wilder, executive vice president (1970-2000) of NHRAW, the Foundation provides grant funds for logistics/marketing projects dealing with the distribution science in the HVAC/R industry. This involves underwriting the direct costs of short term class or individual projects, case studies and other expenses undertaken by undergraduate/graduate students relating to the marketing, movement, storage and sale of HVACR type products and under the supervision of a faculty advisor.