The U.S.-China Business Council (USCBC) encouraged American companies to continue to support relief efforts underway in China in response to the devastating earthquake that hit Sichuan Province on May 12, 2008. USCBC consumer goods member companies have already pledged several million dollars in cash and in-kind goods and services for aid to earthquake victims, and many have established matching funds for their employees."The U.S.-China Business Council has expressed the concerns and support of the U.S. business community to both to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing and the PRC Embassy in Washington, DC," reports USCBC President John Frisbie. "We will continue to advise companies on how to best support the relief effort under way."
The following is a sample list of initial donations by USCBC consumer goods member companies. Companies continue to pledge new contributions and expand existing ones as events unfold. Updates to this list will be posted at http://uschina.org/public/china/2008/earthquake_relief.html:
Anheuser-Busch is donating RMB 3.5 million ($500,000) to the Red Cross Society of China to aid relief efforts for earthquake victims. The company also will provide more than RMB 7.7 million ($1.1 million) or 425,000 cases of fresh drinking water to the area.
The Coca-Cola Company has already sent 10,000 cases of water for earthquake relief and has pledged a donation of RMB 5 million ($715,000) of cash and in-kind assistance.
Johnson & Johnson is committing significant cash contributions to immediate relief and long-term rebuilding efforts, and is supporting employee donations through matching gifts. Additionally, Johnson & Johnson affiliate companies in China have announced a commitment of RMB 10 million ($1.4 million) to the Red Cross Society of China, and have donated many of the companies' consumer health care products and medical supplies.
PepsiCo has donated RMB 1 million ($143,000) to the Red Cross Society of China on May 13, 2008, and is providing product donations (food and beverages) to those in need. In the United States, its foundation has established a Web site to allow for all of its employees to make direct contributions to the Red Cross. Each donation will be matched by the foundation.
Henkel has earmarked assistance totaling 150,000 euros to help the victims of the recent devastating earthquake in China. Working closely with the Henkel sites in China, the company is already in the process of channeling a large portion of this emergency aid in the form of monetary and product donations via the Henkel Friendship Initiative (HFI) to the people in the regions affected. Within the next few days, 50,000 euros will be distributed via the Red Cross in China. Henkel will also be donating hygiene products, cleaning agents and construction materials valued at 50,000 euros. Building on this immediate assistance, Henkel will provide another 50,000 euros over the next few months to support specific reconstruction projects in Sichuan province.
The Procter & Gamble Company has pledged RMB 1 million ($143,000) to the China Red Cross to help with relief work. The organization will also establish a local voluntary employee donation program to show that the hearts and minds of the 7,000 Greater China P&Gers are with those in need at this difficult time.
Mattel will provide more than $125,000 in immediate and long-term disaster relief to support victims of the devastating earthquake in Sichuan province of China and the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis in southwest Myanmar. Funds will go to the American Red Cross and Save the Children.
3M donated 120,000 N95 Particulate Respirators to the Sichuan earthquake disaster area, and 3M Hong Kong immediately initiated a fund raising campaign for all its staff members. The 3M Hong Kong office will match its employees' contributions. The most recent donation amount reached HK$216,000. This money will go to Hong Kong Red Cross to support the disaster area rescue effort. The company hopes to help victims overcome incredible challenges and to rebuild their homeland soon.
Wal-Mart Stores has contributed more than RMB 3 million ($430,000) in relief to China in response to the recent earthquake. A portion of the RMB 3 million will be given to the China Red Cross for disaster relief. In addition, assistance will be provided to help reconstruct the devastated communities. Wal-Mart has more than 15 stores in the area struck by the earthquakes and has been providing essential supplies and assistance to our associates, customers and neighbors in the impacted areas -- donating water and other emergency related products such as food, batteries and clothing, valued in the hundreds of thousands of RMB.
Note: The U.S.-China Business Council (USCBC, www.uschina.org) is an organization of U.S. companies engaged in business with the People's Republic of China. Founded in 1973, the USCBC provides extensive China-focused information, advisory and advocacy services, and events, to roughly 250 U.S. corporations operating within the United States and throughout Asia.
