General Electric announced a company-wide $2.5 million commitment to support relief and recovery efforts in Haiti following the devastating earthquake.
To date, grants from the GE Foundation have been made to the American Red Cross for $1 million and to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF for $500,000. The aid will provide immediate support to emergency response efforts and bring relief to the millions of impacted Haitians.
GE has a large presence in Norwalk with several of its divisions based here. Another Norwalk company, Diageo, has also made significant donations to aid relief in Haiti. On Friday, drinks company Diageo delivered more than 45,000 pounds of food and emergency supplies to Haiti. This mission was part of Diageo's Spirit of the Americas Humanitarian Aid program, an ongoing effort to deliver assistance to disaster zones and communities where Diageo's employees and their families work and live.
GE and Diageo also donated supplies to Hope For Haiti, a nonprofit organization founded by the Kuehner family of Norwalk. (See related story, page A1).
"On behalf of Diageo's nearly 30,000 employees worldwide and those who distribute our products in Haiti, we are honored to be able to deliver assistance in this time of need," said Guy Smith, executive vice president, corporate relations of Norwalk-based Diageo North America. "It is our hope that these emergency provisions will give hope and safety to those who were stricken by this terrible disaster."
Diageo's aircraft delivered 45,000 pounds of disaster relief, including new World Health Organization (WHO) sanctioned emergency health kits. The kits contain enough materials to provide basic medical care to more than 10,000 people for 90 days.
"It is our hope that these emergency provisions will give hope and safety to those who were stricken by this terrible disaster."
-Guy Smith, Executive Vice President, Corporate Relations of Norwalk-based Diageo North America.