Donors Give Generously for Myanmar Relief and Rebuilding
CARE sets goal for long-term recovery over five years

ATLANTA (May 23, 2008) - Contrary to media reports of "donor fatigue" and "disaster fatigue,"an impressive number of foundations and corporations have partnered with CARE to help the people of Myanmar devastated by Cyclone Nargis nearly three weeks ago. Individually and collectively, these donations reflect the generosity we have seen time and again when tragedy strikes anywhere in the world. 

"There is always concern that we will have a tough time getting help for people after natural disasters if there are no immediate media images or direct connections to people here. But Web donations and contributions from our friends at scores of companies and foundations have shown us that the caring spirit remains alive and well here even during economic uncertainty in our country," said Dr. Helene Gayle.

"We are deeply grateful for the more than $4 million we have been able to raise for short-term emergency response and long-term help for the people of Myanmar to recover and rebuild their homes and livelihoods,"she added.

Donations from corporate and foundation partners for Myanmar include the following:

• $50,000 from Charles Schwab Foundation. Charles Schwab Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization created by The Charles Schwab Corporation. Its mission is to give back to the community by supporting employee-selected causes and fostering financial literacy through funding, involvement and expertise. The foundation donated $100,000 to CARE in 2005 following the South Asia tsunami, as well as $50,000 for CARE's response work following the Pakistan earthquake.

• $50,000 from 3M. 3M, a Fortune 500 company with global operations, supported CARE's relief efforts after the South Asia tsunami (December 2004), Hurricane Mitch in Honduras (October 1998) and the Pakistan earthquake (October 2005).

• $75,000 from the Pfizer Corporation. This leading pharmaceutical company has been a strong supporter of CARE's work in the health and education sector.

• $100,000 from the PotashCorp. PotashCorp is an integrated producer of fertilizer, industrial and animal feed products. It is the world's largest fertilizer enterprise, producing the three primary plant nutrients: potash, nitrogen and phosphate. PotashCorp contributed $200,000 to CARE's tsunami rehabilitation efforts in 2005.

• $100,000 from JP Morgan Chase. JPMorgan Chase & Co. is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $1.6 trillion and operations in more than 60 countries. The company has been a partner with CARE in supporting microfinance institutions and agricultural development since 1997. JP Morgan Chase also contributed to tsunami disaster relief in 2005.

• $100,000 from Credit Suisse, plus a global employee campaign where all contributions to CARE will be matched by the Credit Suisse Foundation on a 2:1 basis. Credit Suisse has been a long time supporter of CARE's Emergency Response Fund. Its employees are helping to create virtual communities of awareness and support for CARE's work.

• $100,000 from Cisco. Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Cisco supported CARE's emergency response in 2005 following the South Asian tsunami, and more recently contributed $100,000 for emergency response in Bangladesh following the cyclone in November 2007.

• $100,000 from the Harold Simmons Foundation (Dallas, Texas). The Foundation, a long-time supporter of CARE, now funds a three-year project in Vietnam to provide water and sanitation education and hygiene promotion for schools in the Hau Loc district, Thanh Hoa province.

• $150,000 from the Baxter International Foundation. The Baxter International Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Baxter International Inc. Like Baxter, the foundation supports the development of more accessible and affordable healthcare. Baxter International contributed $500,000 to CARE for tsunami rehabilitation efforts and $300,000 for Pakistan after the October 2005 earthquake.

• $200,000 from UPS Foundation. UPS Foundation, coordinating with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and CARE, also is transporting 142,000 pounds of emergency supplies to Myanmar. LDS Philanthropies contributed more than $200,000 cash in addition to the supplies (included medical supplies, hygiene kits, tents, tarps, soap and food). LDS Philanthropies serves as the central coordinating agency for all donations to the Church.

• $200,000 from Google.org. Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google, uses the power of information and technology to help people improve their lives. The organization develops and invests in tools and partnerships that can help bring shared knowledge to bear on the world's most pressing challenges in the areas of climate change, economic development and global health.

• $250,000 from the Abbott Laboratories Fund. Abbott Laboratories (in the top 100 of the Fortune 500 corporations) has been an active corporate advocate for fighting the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. Abbott committed $450,000 to CARE's emergency relief efforts in Pakistan after the October 2005 earthquake. Abbott is currently supporting CARE's avian flu prevention efforts in Vietnam ($50,000 in 2007) and will sponsor CARE's Anniversary Celebration this year for the second year in a row at the $20,000 level.

• $500,000 over four years from the Fry Foundation. The LLoyd A. Fry Foundation has been a long-time supporter of CARE's emergency relief efforts. The Foundation focuses much of its funding on local Chicago charities and activities in the City of Chicago. The Foundation was established in Illinois in 1959.

• $1 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is a long-time supporter of CARE's work. In developing countries, the foundation focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people – especially those with the fewest resources – have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life.

Among other corporate donors for the Myanmar crisis are UnitedHealth Group, Sanofi–Aventis Corporation, Sony Corporation of America and Cardinal Health, all of which will match employee donations.

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