» U.S. Businesses Helping Asia Earthquake Victims

U.S. Businesses Helping Asia Earthquake Victims

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U.S. Businesses Helping Asia Earthquake Victims

Washington – The U.S. business community has come together to raise more than $39 million in cash and products for critically needed immediate and longer-term relief for victims of the October earthquake that devastated parts of South Asia, according to the Business Roundtable.

The contributions complement the overall U.S. government relief and reconstruction commitment, according to the organization’s Web site.

The Business Roundtable’s Partnership for Disaster Relief coordinates the private sector response to natural disasters and facilitates delivery of in-kind contributions to the area in South Asia affected by the earthquake.

Some of the earthquake relief funds raised so far by the Committee to Encourage Corporate Philanthropy (CECP) – a Business Roundtable project – are being disbursed through five nonprofit international relief organizations: the Aga Khan Foundation, Catholic Relief Services, the International Rescue Committee, Mercy Corps and Save the Children, according to a December 22 press release from the South Asia Earthquake Relief Fund, a CECP program.

CECP is a forum of more than 100 executives whose companies are responsible for almost half of all reported corporate giving in the United States, according to the philanthropic organization.

More: usinfo.state.gov

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