GE Foundation Donates $1 Million For Red Cross Disaster Relief

American Red Cross
Wednesday, 5 November 2003

Gift to support services to victims of thousands of US and international disasters

The American Red Cross today announced a generous contribution from the GE Foundation totaling $1 million for Red Cross relief efforts throughout the United States and around the world. The GE Foundation's donation will help the American Red Cross respond to the needs of victims of thousands of disasters across the United States each year. This gift also mirrors GE's global presence with part of the gift going to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to enable American Red Cross equivalent societies to meet the needs of people affected by disasters internationally.

"We truly appreciate the support we have received from the GE family for many years. This gift demonstrates their belief in our humanitarian mission," said Marsha J. Evans, President and CEO of the American Red Cross. "GE serves as a model for global corporate responsibility." For decades GE's businesses, employees, retirees and the GE Foundation have been unwavering supporters of the American Red Cross, its local chapters, the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, and Red Cross/Red Crescent disaster relief efforts around the world. In response to the events of September 11, 2001, GE employees, retirees and the GE Foundation provided a total of nearly $4.5 million to the American Red Cross through the GE Foundation's matching gift program.

NBC, a division of GE, is also making a contribution to the disaster relief efforts by airing a public service announcement following the airing of "The West Wing" on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 9 p.m. EST. The Emmy award-winning series will air an episode titled "Disaster Relief" that will depict American Red Cross assistance in the aftermath of a fictional Oklahoma tornado. When the producers and writers began creating a realistic tornado relief depiction for the shoot in late September, they consulted with the American Red Cross. In light of recent disasters including Hurricane Isabel and the Southern California Wildfires, the Red Cross, NBC and "The West Wing" worked together to produce a PSA featuring Martin Sheen (President Josiah Bartlet), Richard Schiff (Toby Ziegler) and Dulé Hill (Charlie Young) appealing for all Americans to support the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

Bob Corcoran, president of the GE Foundation, said: "The American Red Cross and Red Cross/Red Crescent societies around the world are highly responsive and effective in their relief efforts to help people in times of great need, including the most recent examples of the wildfires in California, Hurricane Isabel and their continued presence providing relief in war-torn countries. GE and the GE Foundation are proud to support these efforts."

The GE Foundation, the philanthropic organization of the General Electric Company, invests in improving educational opportunity and in strengthening community organizations in GE communities around the world. All told, GE, the GE Foundation and GE employees and retirees contributed over $120 million to community and educational institutions last year.

For more information, or to contact American Red Cross, see their website at: www.redcross.org