Corporate Donations Enable Red Cross to Respond

Generous donations to the American Red Cross are critical to relief efforts down the street, across the country and around the world

WASHINGTON, March 21, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Companies large and small, representing industries across the United States, have taken action to support people in need by donating to the American Red Cross and by encouraging their customers and employees to join them. This support is helping provide immediate needs such as medical assistance, shelter and food and is enabling more help to be on the way.  

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090108/RedCrossLOGO)

Thanks to their generosity, since the earthquake and tsunami struck the Red Cross was able to send an initial gift of $10 million to the Japanese Red Cross, and open shelters and provide comfort to nearly 2,500 people in Hawaii and the west coast also impacted by the tsunami. Meanwhile, other Red Cross chapters in eight different states continue to respond to a variety of disasters including a blizzard in North Dakota, floods in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, West Virginia and California, a forest fire in Oklahoma and Texas, and a home fire in South Carolina.

The distinguished corporate members of the Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP) allow the American Red Cross to respond immediately to the needs of individuals and families impacted by disaster anywhere in the United States, regardless of cost. Beyond their annual commitment, many of them have made additional financial gifts to the Red Cross in support of the Japan earthquake and tsunami.

Additionally, more than 150 companies have launched employee giving campaigns in coordination with the Red Cross and 14 are collecting donations from customers.

"The generous contributions and support of our corporate partners are critical to the ability of the American Red Cross to respond immediately to help people in their time of need, whether in response to the recent tragedy in Japan or disasters here at home," said Gail McGovern, president and CEO of the American Red Cross. "We are very grateful for the support of these companies for our humanitarian mission across the country and around the world."

The American Red Cross would like to recognize the support of Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP) members. The Red Cross also recognizes companies that have made donations of $1 million or more to the relief efforts in Japan. (In alphabetical order as of 3/20).

Abbott*; Altria; Aon; Caterpillar*; Cisco Foundation; ConAgra Foods; ConocoPhillips*; Conundrum Capital LLC, a GDR Privee Rothschild Company*; Costco Wholesale; Darden Restaurants, Inc.; Dr Pepper Snapple Group; FedEx Corporation; GE Foundation*; The Home Depot Foundation; Jefferies & Company, Inc.*; John Deere Foundation*; Johnson Controls, Inc.*; Jones Lang LaSalle*; Kimberly-Clark Corporation; Kraft Foods; LivingSocial*; Lowe's Companies, Inc.*; Merck; Morgan Stanley; Nissan Americas*; Northrop Grumman; Red Sox Foundation; Ryder Charitable Foundation; Starbucks Foundation*; State Farm; State Street Foundation; Southwest Airlines; Target; The TJX Companies, Inc.; UnitedHealthcare; UPS and Walmart.*

*company has pledged to donate $1 million or more

The Red Cross is also grateful to the more than 50 companies listed below that are serving as official cash donation sites for their customers and the public to support our relief efforts. Collectively, they have created more than 60,000 secure and convenient locations online and in retail stores, restaurants and banks where millions of people can make financial donations where they do business daily. Locations are updated at www.redcross.org/givehere.  (In alphabetical order as of 3/20).

1love.org; ABC 4 - Taking Action 4 You; Amazon.com; American Airlines; American Journal Experts; Bank of America; Boscov's Department Stores; Brooks Brothers; Burlington Coat Factory; Citi; CharityChoice Gift Cards; Clear Channel Communications, Inc.; Conundrum Capital LLC*; Cooking Channel; Corporate Executive Board; Costco Wholesale; D.C. United; Definition 6; Delta; Discover Card; Dogfish Head Craft Brewery; Electronic Arts; Food Network; Gordmans; Hard Rock International; Harris Bank; JPMorgan Chase; KING5/BELO Corporation; Lexus; Liberty Tax Service; Live Nation; Lowe's; MB Financial; Minor League Baseball; MoneyGram International; National Automobile Dealers Association; National Cherry Blossom Festival; National Hockey League; Nationwide Insurance Foundation; NBA Cares; Panda Express; Philadelphia Insurance Companies; QVC; Red Sox Foundation; Regions Bank; Ross;  Sam's Club; Seattle Japan Relief; Southwest Airlines; Starbucks Coffee Company; Starwood; Subaru of America, Inc.; SXSWCares; TBC Corporation and Its Affiliated Companies; The Kroger Co.; Ticketmaster; Toshiba; United Continental Holdings; Univision; Vonage;  Walmart; Wells Fargo & Company; WGAL; Yokogawa Corporation of America; Yokohama Tire Corporation; Zappos.com.

Donations in support of the Red Cross relief efforts for Japan and Pacific Tsunami can be made at www.redcross.org or by calling 1-800-HELP-NOW. Mobile donors can text "REDCROSS" to 90999 to make a $10 contribution.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

SOURCE American Red Cross