Posted on September 17, 2008

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Corporate Donations Begin to Roll in for Hurricane Ike Recovery Efforts

ExxonMobil Corporation, Wal-Mart Stores, Lowe's Companies, and the UPS and Home Depot foundations each have announced seven-figure donations for disaster relief and rebuilding efforts in the wake of Hurricane Ike, which pummeled the Texas Gulf Coast over the weekend.

ExxonMobil will give a total of $5 million to the American Red Cross, the United Way, the Salvation Army, and the Texas Disaster Relief Fund; the gift follows on the heels of an earlier donation of $1.5 million from the world's largest oil company for disaster relief efforts in Louisiana in the wake of Hurricane Gustav. Wal-Mart's gift of $2.5 million in cash and merchandise also will benefit the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and the Texas Disaster Relief Fund, as well as the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and Feeding America. The Wal-Mart Foundation has pledged more than $2 million in grants to employees who sustained significant damage to their homes.

In addition to a $1 million donation to the Red Cross, Lowe's has announced that its 1,575 stores nationwide will continue to serve as official Red Cross cash donation sites to benefit relief efforts for all 2008 hurricanes and that it will match in-store contributions dollar-for-dollar up to $250,000. Meanwhile, UPS has given $500,000 to the national Red Cross; $50,000 to the agency's Southeast Louisiana chapter; and $500,000 in in-kind transportation support of disaster relief needs through the Aidmatrix network.

Home Depot also will support the Red Cross's disaster relief efforts with a gift of $200,000, in addition to gifts of $700,000 to the Local Initiatives Support Corporation and $100,000 in clean-up materials for locally organized, community volunteer efforts. Separately, the Homer Fund, a charity for Home Depot employees in need of emergency financial assistance, has begun to help employees and their families affected by Hurricane Ike with urgent housing needs and daily essentials. To date, the fund has awarded approximately $1.1 million to more than 1,300 employees affected by hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

"Our thoughts are with those affected by the storm, including about 25,000 ExxonMobil employees and their families across southern Texas and Louisiana," said ExxonMobil chairman and CEO Rex W. Tillerson. "Our focus now is on the recovery — helping our employees, their families, and their communities as they deal with the aftermath of the storm and in planning for a safe resumption of our operations in the region, which are vital to the nation's energy supply."

“ Wal-Mart Donates $2.5 Million to Support Relief Efforts in Response to Hurricanes Ike and Gustav.” Wal-Mart Stores Press Release 9/16/08.

“Lowe's Announces $1 Million Donation for American Red Cross Disaster Relief.” Lowe's Companies Press Release 9/15/08.

“ExxonMobil Donates $5 Million to Ike Disaster Relief.” ExxonMobil Corporation Press Release 9/15/08.

“The Home Depot Foundation Donates $1 Million to Hurricane Ike Recovery and Rebuilding Efforts.” Home Depot Press Release 9/15/08.

“UPS Contributes $1.1 Million to Relief Efforts UPS Press Release 9/16/08.” UPS Press Release 9/16/08.

Primary Subject: Community Improvement/Development
Secondary Subject(s): Human Services, Hurricane Relief
Location(s): Gulf Coast

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