America is a large, compassionate, and wealthy country. When a tragedy like the one the Gulf Coast is experienceing in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, we expect Americans to lend a hand collectively. So often neglected in recounting the generosity of Americans are the contributions of our corporate citizens. Many in the media and politics do their best to villify corporations, and sometimes it is deserved, but not usually.
Anheuser-Busch: Anheuser-Busch and its wholesalers have donated 825,000 cans of water to the relief effort, and the Anheuser-Busch Foundation has pledge $250,000 to the Red Cross.
BP: The BP Foundation has contributed $1 million to the Red Cross ($500,000 for Louisiana, $250,000 for Mississippi, $100,000 for Alabama, and $150,000 “at the discretion of the Red Cross,” according to a company press release). The Foundation will also match employee donations to the relief effort.
Cadeco Industries, Inc.: Cadeco which operates a coffee processing plant, is offering all available resources to “support the coffee industry assets” damaged by the hurricane, according to a company press release. For instance, the company has offered to store, roast, and package coffee from affected coffee industry participants.
Capital One Financial Corporation: Capital One will make a $1 million donation to the American Red Cross.
Cingular Wireless: Cingular Wireless has created free emergency calling stations in its retail stores in affected states. When conditions allow, it will send out vans to offer the service on a mobile basis.
Culligan International Company: Culligan is contributing “five semi-trailer trucks” of bottle water, according to a company press release. The company is distributing its donation through Convoy of Hope and the American Red Cross.
CVS/pharmacy: CVS will donate $254,000 worth of supplies, including food, water, and personal care items, while the CVS/pharmacy Charitable Trust has pledge $250,000; both gifts will go to the American Red Cross.
DuPont: DuPont has pledged $1 million to disaster relief, with particular emphasis on the hardest hit communities, including those surrounding its DeLisle, MS and Pascagoula, MS sites. The company is also “prepared to provide product donations,” according to a company press release.
Ford Motor Credit Company: Ford is offering affected customers the opportunity to defer up to two payments on their vehicles.
Freddie Mac: Freddie Mac has pledged $50,000 to the American Red Cross, while the Freddie Mac Foundation will match employee donations to hurricane relief efforts; the Foundation will double its match on donations to Habitat for Humanity’s relief efforts.
General Motors: GM, the GM Foundation, and GMAC are contributing a total of $400,000 to the American Red Cross Hurricane 2005 Relief Fund. The GM Foundation will also match employee donations to the company’s Global Aid disaster relief website, up to $250,000. GM is also offering the American Red Cross the use of more than 25 cars and trucks, while OnStar is offering its full range of services for customers based or traveling in and near the affected area. A Shreveport, Louisiana GM facility is helping the local American Red Cross chapter to collect bedding for evacueesKPMG: KPMG is using its Disaster Relief Fund to aid employees affected by the hurricane and will be making a donation to the Red Cross; the donation amount has not yet been determined.
Lowe’s Companies, Inc.: Lowe’s is collecting customer donations to the American Red Cross at its locations nationwide; the company will match these contributions up to $1 million.
Office Depot: Office Depot has pledged $1 million to the American Red Cross.
PETCO: PETCO and the PETCO Foundation are asking customers to round up their store charges to the next dollar, with proceeds going to support “animal welfare disaster relief needs” in the affected region, according to a company press release. The company is also raising funds for disaster relief via its website.
T-Mobile: T-Mobile will make its Wi-Fi Internet service available at no cost at its Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama HotSpot locations, according to CNN.
The Deluxe Corporation: The Deluxe Corporation has contributed $50,000 to the American Red Cross.
U-Haul: The U-Haul Company of Southern Alabama and the U-Haul Company of Mississippi are offering affected families 30 days of free storage.
Universal Drug Store: Universal Drug Store is offering free priority shipping on orders from hurricane victims. The company will also donate $1 to the American Red Cross for every order received by September 15.Wal-Mart: Wal-Mart has announced a $1 million donation to the Salvation Army for “to provide early support for upcoming disaster relief assistance,” according to a company press release. The company is also collecting donations at its stores and on its websites.
Walgreen’s: Walgreen’s is distributing free bottled drinking water in the areas most affected by the hurricane.Winn-Dixie Stores: Winn-Dixie is collecting donations to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund at its checkout counters.
You can help too. Soldier's Angels is pitching in and Blackfive can tell you about it. Greyhawk too can direct you ways you can help. And Glenn Reynolds has a great list of reputable organizations to which you can contribute or volunteer.
You can do something. I mean if the "evil" corporations can pitch in, so can you.