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UPS Donates $1.25 Million to Hurricane Relief
Separate Effort to Help Employees Starts with $250,000
ATLANTA, Sept. 1, 2005 - 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.
UPS has more than 2,200 employees in the hurricane impact area and has been working since Katrina struck to contact each one to assess their situation. To date, no injuries have been reported.
Other activities to support its employees in the affected areas include extending medical benefits to those employees who may not be working for the next 30 days; making it easier to obtain medical and pharmaceutical assistance away from home, and opening a specially staffed toll-free phone number for its employees needing assistance.
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 and governmental agencies. The company is not in a position to handle individual requests for free shipping.
UPS also is urging other individuals or organizations seeking in-kind shipping assistance to review product donation guidelines provided by the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and Gifts-in-Kind International before conducting any drives. Previously used personal property generally does not benefit the affected communities and may make it more difficult for the critically needed items to reach those in need.
Founded in 1951 and based in Atlanta, Ga., The UPS Foundation identifies specific areas where its support will clearly impact social issues. The UPS Foundation's major initiatives currently include programs that support increased global volunteerism, literacy and hunger relief. In 2004, The UPS Foundation donated more than $39.9 million to charitable organizations worldwide. Visit community.ups.com for more information about UPS's community involvement.
