Listed below is an example of what some of our GSP endorsing companies are doing in response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. These are living examples of what the GSP calls on companies to do for the general good of humankind – in good times and bad. In addition to the generous donations these companies have made to help with immediate relief, some of them were directly affected by this horrific natural disaster. This is just a brief summary and you can check their web sites for more details:
- The Hershey Company is matching employee donations to the Red Cross through United Way; established a fund for employee donations as well as leave bank for employees to donate unused vacation leave to their employees affected by the storm; product donations to America's Second Harvest shipped to Louisiana and Mississippi; cash contributions to two of their sugar suppliers in the affected region; and providing product donations to volunteer groups traveling to the disaster region.
- Royal Dutch Shell has already given $2M to the American Red Cross and will match up to an additional $1M in employee donations; provided $1M in interest-free loans to their affected employees; employees have given countless volunteer hours, especially at the Texas shelters and collected needed emergency supplies; provided gasoline to emergency crews and has given out $100K in gas cards to facilitate survivors’ return home; and they are providing temporary and medium-term housing for their employees in need.
- Newmont Mining has given $100K to the American Red Cross; they also will double the amount their employees give to relief agencies in their matching program; they have given $100K to the Dave Matthews Band Concert for Hurricane Relief (100% of all ticket sales and proceeds will be donated to relief efforts); employees are donating blood, food, clothing, baby basics and school supplies; and they are partnering with the United Way and the American Red Cross to help with the long-term needs of families who are being relocated to Colorado, assisting with housing, employment, education and training.
- General Motors has pledged at least $1M and the GM Foundation will be matching employee contributions; GM has made 200 vehicles available to the American Red Cross and other agencies helping with relief efforts, including Hummers, SUVs, trucks and vans; employees are involved in daily efforts to collect contributions, supplies and even blood donations; GMAC-Residential Funding Corp has pledged up to $1M to various FEMA-approved agencies; OnStar has extended services to subscribers in the affected areas and activated services in the vehicles provided to the American Red Cross.
- Chevron has made a commitment of $5M to support recovery efforts, including $3M to the American Red Cross and $2M to local charities and relief efforts in the affected areas where they have operations; they are working to secure the health and well-being of their 4,000 employees in the impacted areas and provided a full-service 500,000 sq. foot tent city for their employees near the Pascagoula Refinery.
- Procter & Gamble made an initial contribution of $1M in cash and product donations to the American Red Cross for disaster relief; working to locate all of their employees and their families impacted by the hurricane to ensure their safety and they are offering a $5,000 interest-free loan to any affected employee to help them get back on their feet; Iams Company (a P&G Subsidiary) is providing food for sheltered and stray animals in the area.
While the human, environmental and structural devastation is beyond our comprehension, the response from corporations and individuals is heartwarming. May this outpouring of support continue as long as needed and also serve as an example of what we are capable of when we work together for the common good.
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