General Motors gives with both hands to disaster relief

The General Motors Foundation and GM China have donated more than $1million (£505,000) to support relief work in China and Burma.

The biggest part of the contribution has come from GM China, which has given more than $850,000 for the earthquake relief work in Sichuan province. GM China will add other amounts to match its employees’ donations.

The foundation has given $200,000 for the work in China and $50,000 to the United Nations World Food Programme to aid the Burma cyclone victims. The foundation, too, will match its employees’ donations.

The General Motors contribution appears to be the biggest single corporate amount given for relief work in the two countries.

ING Americas, part of the ING Group global financial institution, is contributing $100,000 to the earthquake relief effort in China. This contribution is being made through ING’s charitable arm to Unicef China to provide urgently needed supplies. The emphasis is on school kits to support education projects for children whose schools have been destroyed, and on health kits, tents, shelter materials, drinking water and other immediate necessities.

The financial services company JPMorgan Chase is giving $300,000 and will match employees’ contributions to international relief organizations in both disaster-hit countries up to $100,000.

The United Airlines Foundation is matching up to $50,000 in employees’ donations and will offer up to five million flyer miles.  

Johnson Controls, which manufactures automotive products and services to make energy use more efficient and improve comfort and security, is providing $780,000 for the relief work in China. Much of this is from Johnson’s staff and its joint venture partners in China. The company’s employees in China, for example, are giving $150,000.

The huge US retailer Wal-Mart is providing $430,000 for relief and reconstruction in China. Ed Chan, Wal-Mart China’s president and chief executive, said: ‘Giving back to our communities, especially in a time of need, is part of our culture.’

Rod Gillum, General Motors’ vice-president and chairman of the GM Foundation, said: ‘Our employees have a long tradition of responding to such emergencies quickly and compassionately. GM is always ready to assist in global relief efforts to provide food, water, medicine and other resources to those who are in need.’