Businesses are a fast-acting, powerful force for good, especially after tragic disasters like Tropical Storm Harvey. They mobilize communications, networks, product distribution, fundraising, and people quickly, because we are made of people who care passionately about one another, and find collective solutions with nonprofits, organizations, and public service professionals.
We also know it’s not just the immediate efforts that matter; we want to help with rebuilding for people, families, and communities.
Across the nation, corporations have pledged more than $100M and are stepping up with other efforts to help people across Texas.
Colorado businesses are leading the way, from direct donations and employee matching, to sending product, volunteers, and medical staff. Hundreds of CSR professionals across industries have been called to action to place hurricane relief at the top of their companies’ intranet sites and refocus internal communications to thousands of employees to provide ways to help and engage people. Golf tournaments, telethons, fundraisers, employee matching campaigns – and more have been redirected to help those in need in Texas.
A few examples among the many companies showing the power of good:
Kaiser Permanente has donated $1 million to relief efforts for Hurricane Harvey victims. Half of the donation will go to the American Red Cross to address immediate recovery needs, and $500,000 will go to Mental Health America of Greater Houston to provide mental health and emotional support for those affected by the storm.
The RK Foundation has expanded their workplace giving campaign by matching any donations their employees make to a non-profit that will help the victims of the hurricane and related flooding. Their employees are invited to choose which charity to support, i.e. food bank, animal welfare, disaster relief, etc., and RK Foundation will match the funds. Employees have until September 15 to make a donation.
QEP is making a corporate contribution of $25,000 and opening an employee donation site with the Red Cross and matching employee gifts at 50%.
Xcel Energy is donating more than $100,000 to the American Red Cross and matching employee gifts between $50-$750 at 100%.
CH2M is contributing $70,000 to the Red Cross, directing their net proceeds from this week’s golf tournament.
Western Union is waiving money order fees across the U.S. to Texas, and already has donated $30,000 to the Red Cross, and matching WU agents’ donations.
Janus Henderson Investors made an immediate donation of $10,000 and deployed a 2:1 match on all employee donations to the Red Cross and Save the Children.
Local television stations 9News, KMGH, CBS4, FOX31, Telemundo and KDVR all joined forces with TeleTech for an all-day telethon Wednesday that answered more than 3,500 calls, raising $260,000 for the American Red Cross. Corporate donations added another nearly $250,00 including from IMA Financial Group, Level 3 and DCP Midstream. IMA activated their company Red Cross microsite to help associates donate to fund relief.
With more than 100 centers and 7,000 patients in Texas, DaVita teammates have been working non-stop to provide medical care, and with medical staff the company is providing from across the country; and they expanded their call center capabilities, creating and implementing a patient triage process and delivering basic supplies – toothbrushes, toothpaste, blankets and more.
DISH Cares mobilized their command center with Information Technology Disaster Resource Center (ITDRC) to provide broadband services to seven disaster relief hubs and shelters, and as a communications hub for first responders. They also mobilized their work with Team Rubicon, a non-profit for military veterans who work with first responders.
Johns Manville made an immediate donation of $50,000 and is matching dollar:dollar for employee contributions.
First Western Trust has already begun a $5,000 challenge grant with its employees and Great-West, Suncor, and many others are raising dollars, providing ways to give to their employees, and dozens of companies are matching employee gifts and launching microsites with information.
Ball, MillerCoors and Oskar Blues donated thousands of cans of important water. As a Disaster Responder sponsor of American Red Cross, Ball provided additional funding to prepare for the storm and aid in the relief efforts, and their employee donations to ARC and are being matched.
And, Little Pub Company is leveraging their network to partner with Gosling’s Rum for a “Make the Hurricane Pay” fundraiser. For every hurricane or other Gosling’s drink, $2 will go to aid the relief effort.
Now, that’s the power of good.