In response to perhaps the greatest human catastrophe of our time, the Port of Oakland launched a Tsunami Relief Matching-contribution Campaign,” said Patricia A. Scates, president of the Oakland Board of Port Commissioners. Within 30 days from the start of the campaign, Port of Oakland employees donated a total of $22,013 to various tsunami relief charities.
Published: March, 2005
“In response to perhaps the greatest human catastrophe of our time, the Port of Oakland launched a Tsunami Relief Matching-contribution Campaign,” said Patricia A. Scates, president of the Oakland Board of Port Commissioners. Within 30 days from the start of the campaign, Port of Oakland employees donated a total of $22,013 to various tsunami relief charities. “The Port is contributing a matching $22,013 to the American Red Cross Tsunami Relief Fund,” Scates stated. The total contribution from the Port of Oakland and its employees to Tsunami Relief Efforts is $44,026.
Representatives of the American Red Cross were invited to receive the Port’s matching contribution at the regularly scheduled board meeting on February 15th. Representing the Red Cross were Michael Jang, Chairman of the Leadership Council for Alameda County, and Marian Wilson-Sylvestre, Executive Officer of Alameda County. “We are delighted that the Port recognizes the work of the Red Cross in these disasters,” said Jang. “Public support for this disaster has been tremendous and with the enormity of the tragedy, we welcome all aid,” commented Wilson-Sylvestre.
“Many of the Port’s business partners have employees, offices, and close relationships in the tsunami-affected areas of Southeast Asia,” said Port of Oakland executive director Jerry Bridges. “When we began this campaign, we wanted it to be inclusive of our entire community. Many of our business partners have taken extraordinary steps toward the tsunami relief effort,” he added.
Highlights of Port of Oakland Business Partners’ Tsunami Relief Efforts:
> Federal Express is working with six global relief agencies to provide transportation of pharmaceuticals and relief supplies (i.e., children’s medicine) to Sri Lanka and Indonesia. To date, they have committed to transport more than 500,000 pounds (227,000kgs) of relief supplies.
> Dreisbach Companies has donated $10,000, equally split between Americares and the American Red Cross.
> MOL has made sizable cash contributions as an organization and through its employee base and is providing free container shipping and storage of relief supplies.
> NOL has sent an initial contribution of $100,000 to the Red Cross and is continuing to match employee contributions, which brings its total contribution to date to $257,110 USD.
> Global Aerospace provides general liability insurance for the airport. They have raised $1,600 to date and are committed to matching employee contributions up to $8,000.
> Northern California Power Agency has made a significant contribution from its employee base to the American Red Cross.
> Harris & Associates has also launched an employee matching program and together has contributed $18,692 ($9,346 matching) to the American Red Cross.
> Tifco Industries (Houston, Texas) has contributed an employee matching total of $6,700 to the American Red Cross.
> AECOM has also launched an employee matching program and has donated to various organizations, including the American Red Cross, CARE, Doctors without Borders, UNICEF, and American Friends Service Committee.
> Marsh Risk and Insurance Services (Marsh) has pledged $250,000 to American Red Cross International Response Fund. All Asia-based employee contributions will be matched and go to UNICEF in Asia.
> Crowley Maritime Corporation will match employee contributions at 50 cents per dollar to the American Red Cross.
> STL has made a contribution of $25,000 towards relief efforts.
> Wulsfberg, Reese, Colvig & Firstman has contributed $1,000 to the American Red Cross and is encouraging its employees to make charitable contributions individually.
l AGS, Inc. (Consulting Engineers) has contributed $500 to the American Red Cross Relief Fund.
> Golder Associates, Ltd. Golder worldwide has contributed $50,000 to the Tsunami relief efforts. Employees from its Canadian operations have contributed a total of $39,108 CDN, and the company contributed an additional $25,000 to RedR. RedR is an organization that provides engineers and technical personnel assistance to the UN agencies in support of disaster
relief work.
