UPS donates $1.25 million to the Relief Effort

Press Release found here:

In response to the destruction from Hurricane Katrina, The UPS Foundation is donating $1,250,000 toward relief efforts and UPS is taking separate steps to assist its employees and their families in the affected areas.

The $1.25 million donation will include $500,000 in cash and up to $750,000 of in-kind services for the shipment of medical and health-related items. The funds will be divided between The American Red Cross, America's Second Harvest and other relief organizations that assist with long-term rebuilding activities.

"With thousands of employees and several facilities affected in the stricken areas of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, UPS knows first hand of the destruction caused by this hurricane," said Mike Eskew, chairman and CEO. "We are committed to helping individuals in the communities in which we live and work to overcome this immediate crisis and then rebuild their lives."

In addition to the efforts of The UPS Foundation, UPS is establishing a separate relief fund to which the company and other UPS employees will contribute to support fellow UPSers who have lost their homes and belongings. The UPS Employee Hurricane Relief Fund will start with an initial $250,000 contribution from the company, which also will match contributions from other employees.

Donations provided by The UPS Foundation will help meet urgent needs for housing, personal care items, food, water and emergency shelter. Organizations receiving immediate financial aid are:

• $125,000 to the Disaster Relief Fund of the American Red Cross: The national chapter of the Red Cross will disperse these funds to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to hurricane victims.
  
• $125,000 to America's Second Harvest: Monies will go to its emergency hunger relief activities to assist with donated food and other essential grocery items being directed to the impacted areas.
  
• $250,000 to support ongoing recovery efforts: These funds will be distributed to relief organizations providing long-term rebuilding activities in the affected areas.

UPS will provide its in-kind assistance to efforts being coordinated by official relief agencies. UPS is urging other individuals or organizations seeking in-kind shipping assistance to contact Gifts In Kind International. Once the requests have been consolidated by Gifts In Kind International, UPS will move the goods into the affected areas.

This is a very generous donation. However, considering how many people have been likely effected by this disaster, America still has to do more.