In an initiative promoted by the United States Embassy in Brazil through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), American companies that are active in the country and members of the corporate social responsibility +Unidos Group have been coordinating a joint response for the victims of the earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010 and left at least 150,000 dead and displaced at least 200,000 people.
In addition to cash contributions, assistance offered by +Unidos members includes donations of food, water, medicines, articles of hygiene, and logistical support for NGOs operating in Haiti. Companies are also carrying out collection campaigns among employees.
The list below provides details on the companies and their respective efforts to assist in the relief efforts:
3M – Organized a campaign to collect supplies and financial donations. They will match employee contributions, which will be sent to Red Cross.
AES – Released the United Way bank account to the collaborators of the seven enterprises of the AES Group in Brasil located in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul.
Alcoa – Donated US$100 thousand to the Red Cross to help the earthquake victims, Alcoa also maintains an internal campaign to encourage voluntary donations from employees
Baxter – Organized an internal campaign to encourage voluntary financial donations from employees. Baxter Foundation (U.S.) will provide matching funds to the amount collected by the Brazilian office.
Bristol Myers - The Company has already shipped a large donation of antibiotics though Project Hope. In addition, the Birstol-Myers Squibb Foundation will donate a total of US$200 thousand to the Catholic Medic Mission Board.
Cargill – Is matching employee contributions to support CARE, Red Cross and World Food Programme.
Caterpillar - Set up a task force with machine operation instructors to assist in the rescue of victims.
Cisco – Organized an internal campaign to encourage voluntary donations from employees. Cisco Foundation (U.S.) will provide matching funds to the amount collected by the Brazilian office.
Citi – Organized an internal campaign to encourage voluntary donations from employees. They will make a corporate donation to support employees of the local office affected by the disaster; furthermore Citi Group has already donated US$2 million to Haiti.
Coca-Cola – Donated US$1 million a day after the tragedy. Coca-Cola Latin America is declining investment in advertising activity to devote the same amount of US$1 million to efforts led by the Red Cross for the people of Haiti. The company produced a short TV campaign that invites consumers to also donate funds to Red Cross for the people of Haiti.
Cummins – Organized an internal campaign to collect clothes and cleaning products.
Dow – Donated US$500 thousand to the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund facilitated by the American Red Cross to assist in emergency relief and rescue operations. Dow will also match employee contributions to earthquake relief in Haiti - up to US$250 thousand in combined donations. The Dow matching contribution will go to the United Nations World Food Program and CARE to support their relief efforts in the country.
DuPont – Donated US$100 thousand to American Red Cross to assist in relief efforts. In addition, the message from CEO Ellen Kullman, encouraged employees to make their donations through recognized international institutions.
FedEx – FedEx is providing more than US$1 million in cash and in-kind support to several global charities. The support will be used by the following designated relief organizations: the American Red Cross, Heart to Heart International, Direct Relief International, World Vision, and Water Missions International.
GE – Committed US$2.5 million to Haiti Relief and maintains an internal campaign to encourage voluntary financial donations from employees. The GE Foundation (U.S.) will provide matching funds to the amount collected by the Brazilian office.
HP – Donated US$750 thousand and organized an internal campaign to encourage voluntary financial donations from employees. Donations will be channeled through the United Way bank account.
IBM – Organized an internal campaign to encourage voluntary financial donations from employees.
Intel – Donated US$250 thousand to the relief efforts. Intel also committed to match the volume of donations made by their employees and former employees. The Company maintains contact with authorities and humanitarian agencies to decide the best course of action to aid the victims.
International Paper - Donated US$50 thousand to American Red Cross. These funds will support immediate on-the-ground relief efforts to provide food, water and medical assistance to victims. In addition to this donation IP is also providing the opportunity for employees around the world to make a personal contribution through the International Paper’s Employee Relief Fund."
Ketchum – Donated US$50 thousand to UNICEF and additional other donations were made to the United Way by Ketchum Brasil’s partners, Unibanco Bank and Pag Seguro. Kecthum also organized an internal campaign to encourage voluntary donations from employees.
Lilly – Donated US$250 thousand and will also match employee’s contribution to generate an additional US$250 thousand.
McDonald’s – Organized both external and internal campaigns to encourage voluntary donations, and will match internal campaign donations. In addition, from Jan 16 to 23, US$0.50 from each Big Mac sandwich sold will be donated to the Red Cross.
Merck Sharp & Dohme Farmacêutica – Company headquarters donated U$350 thousand and MSD Brazil is organizing an internal campaign to encourage donations from employees.
Microsoft- Is making an initial commitment of US$1.25 million which includes cash and in-kind contributions. In addition, 2,200 employees have contributed over US$410 thousand to 120 nonprofits working in Haiti.
Monsanto – Donated US$ 50 thousand to American Red Cross Disaster Assistance through the Disasters Coverage Program. In addition, Monsanto is organizing an international campaign to collect donations from all its employees and the Company will match funds from those who donated only up to US$ 1. The amount will be sent to the American Red Cross, Central Emergency Response Fund of United Nations and the Friends of World Food Program.
Motorola – Organized an internal campaign to encourage voluntary financial donations from employees. Motorola Foundation (U.S.) will provide matching funds to the amount collected by the Brazilian office.
Pepsico - the PepsiCo Foundation has created a secure Matching Gifts Web page, enabling all eligible PepsiCo employees to directly support and match gifts to PepsiCo Foundation's Disaster Relief organizations. Additionally, many of PepsiCo's Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are also assisting with disaster relief efforts. For example, PepsiCo Mosaic is partnering with Hope for Haiti, to donate 22 pallets of water and with ShelterBox to deliver survival kits for disaster victims. Employees who would like to assist can do so by supporting your local ERGs in their local drives.
Pfizer - Announced that an initial cash grant of US$250 thousand will be split evenly between the U.S. Fund for UNICEF and CARE. In addition, Pfizer is donating up to US$1 million in needed medicines to the Red Cross to help those most affected by this tragedy.
Procter & Gamble – Donated of hygiene products and cleaning materials.
Rigesa – Donated R$20 thousand. Has also organized a campaign to collect food, water, clothes, shoes, blankets, sheets, cleaning and hygiene products. They are also encouraging voluntary donations and will match the funds raised.
Visa – Donated US$200 thousand to the American Red Cross Haiti Relief and Development Fund and is organizing an internal campaign to encourage voluntary financial donations from employees. The corporation will provide matching funds, on a two-to-one basis, against the amount collected by the Brazilian office.
Walmart – Organized internal campaigns to encourage voluntary financial donations from employees.
Whirpool – Donated an expressive amount to the Red Cross.
Created in October 2006, the +Unidos Group is a partnership between the U.S. Mission in Brazil through its U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and American companies established in Brazil.
With a mission to strengthen public and private alliances to optimize and enhance U.S. corporate social responsibility investments in Brazil towards sustainably achieving the Millennium Development Goals, +Unidos seeks to promote visibility for its member's investments in environment, socio and economic-related projects, as well as to promote the theme of corporate social responsibility among different sectors of Brazilian society. This is done through the dissemination of best practices, success stories, and the establishment of public-private partnerships.
The group has experience in the large-scale mobilization and coordination of resources from its members, having coordinated an internal campaign to assist victims of the 2008 floods in the state of Santa Catarina.
The +Unidos board of directors is made of or the Chief Executives of the Brazilian subsidiaries of the following companies: Microsoft, Motorola, Citi, Wal-Mart, Cummins, Ford, HP, Intel, and Dow.
For more information about the group, visit the website: www.maisunidos.org