OAK BROOK, Ill. --Last week, a CSP Daily News Poll asked: "Is your company offering or planning to offer an official Hurricane Katrina relief effort?" Some 36% of the nearly 200 respondents said they are already offering some kind of effort; about 25% said they are planning to do so.
As reported last week, many petroleum, convenience store and related companies have contributed to the relief effort in the aftermath of Katrina. Here is an list of additional companies making donations and offering donation or other charity programs:
Valero
San Antonio-based Valero Energy Corp. pledged a $1 million donation to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund to help those affected by Katrina.
This is a national tragedy and we're very concerned about the thousands of people who are going through such a difficult time in the wake of this disaster, said Valero Chairman and CEO Bill Greehey.
He added, The Red Cross does a great job to ensure that the money goes directly to the relief efforts and helps the people who need it most. It's the best way that we can reach out and help people in need at a time like this. We have also had an overwhelming response from our employees wanting to help those who have been devastated by the storm. In addition to our $1 million donation, our 22,000 employees across the United States, Canada and the Caribbean region are also making contributions to the Red Cross, along with other efforts ranging from blood drives to food and clothing drives to volunteer efforts supporting hurricane victims in temporary shelters. This is true to form for Valero employees because they always pull together to help others in their time of need.
Greehey said that Valero also is sending truckloads of food and supplies from its retail distribution center in San Antonio to emergency shelters in the impacted area. And because fuel availability is a problem in the region, the company is providing fuel trucks from its St. Charles, La., refinery to provide fuel for local emergency services.
Valero owns and operates two refineries in southern Louisiana, including the St. Charles refinery that is just 15 miles west of New Orleans. The company also has several retail sites, pipelines, asphalt terminals and refined product terminal operations throughout the region.
We have about 1,000 employees in the impacted area, and at this point we are very hopeful that all of them are safe, said Greehey. It may be a while before we know the extent of the damage our employees will face when they are finally allowed to return home. But we are monitoring the situation very closely and we will provide financial assistance as well as any other assistance needed to help any impacted employees get back on their feet.
Valero is also undertaking several efforts to support and temporarily house employees who have been displaced by the storms. The company is coordinating delivery of at least 20 portable living trailers to the St. Charles refinery and a 150-ft. by 100-ft. air-conditioned tent. The company also is sending shipments of food and water and mobile kitchen equipment and cooks from San Antonio. And it is sending electrical generators and is installing satellite hookups at the refinery to improve telephone and electronic communications. Assisting with these efforts and the safe restart of the St. Charles refinery will be a 20-person electrical crew from Valero's Corpus Christi and Three Rivers, Texas refineries, and a crew of maintenance employees from the company's corporate headquarters in San Antonio. Startup of the refinery, which was shut down Sunday but incurred no significant damage, is expected to take approximately two weeks.
ConocoPhillips
Houston-based ConocoPhillips said it will contribute $3 million to assist relief efforts arising from Katrina and the resultant flooding in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Also, the company will establish a matching program for employees.
All of us at ConocoPhillips are deeply saddened by the loss of life and damage resulting from Hurricane Katrina, said Jim Mulva, chairman and CEO. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those impacted by the disaster including our many employees, friends and neighbors across the Gulf Coast. It is our sincere hope that this contribution will help those most affected begin rebuilding their lives and communities.
Marathon
Houston-based Marathon said it will assist its more than 650 employees and their families in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama who were affected by the storm. Assistance includes food, water, generators and other household items, as well as providing temporary housing for those whose homes were seriously damaged or destroyed. The company also is providing employees in these three states with interest-free loans of up to $10,000 to assist in their recovery efforts. Marathon has also brought in employees from other parts of the country to assist in both humanitarian and operations support activities.
Marathon is also providing assistance to other Katrina victims through a $1.5 million contribution to the American Red Cross. The company added that it will match dollar-for-dollar employee, retiree, dealer and jobber donations to hurricane relief agencies.
7-Eleven
Dallas-based 7-Eleven Inc. will conduct a Red Cross Canister Campaign to benefit victims of Katrina. Stores will serve as official donation sites for the canister campaign that will run in stores nationally beginning September 5. Customers will have a simple, convenient way to donate cash or spare change to support this relief effort.
The company is also trucking 7-Eleven Classic Selection spring water into the affected area to help the disaster victims. Other efforts are also in the works, the company said.
Rutters
Rutters Farm Stores, York, Pa., has placed canisters in each of its convenience stores to raise money for Katrina relief. All proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross.
Sheetz
Sheetz Inc., Altoona, Pa., said it is has begun fundraising efforts to aid families suffering from the devastation caused by Katrina. Starting September 1, Sheetz customers can donate to relief efforts through change boxes placed conveniently near the cash registers in all 315 Sheetz c-stores; 100% of the contributions collected will be given to the Red Cross for aid to the victims of the disaster.
The company kicked off the effort with a check for $25,000 to the Red Cross.
Our hearts go out to the families who have been so hard hit by this disaster. We want to do what we can to help, said President and CEO Stan Sheetz.
Kraft
Kraft Foods, Northfield, Ill., said it will provide an initial $1 million in food and cash grants to assist with the Katrina relief efforts. This includes $700,000 in food donations; the first shipmenteight truckloads of Fruit20 flavored water, Planters nuts, Capri Sun beverages, snacks and cookiesis already on its way. The balance of $300,000 will come in the form of grants for food and shelter relief efforts.
The company is providing several ways to help their employees extend a helping hand including a matching gifts program, food and clothing drives, and other volunteer efforts.
Kraft Foods markets many of the world's leading food brands, including Kraft cheese, Maxwell House and Jacobs coffees, Nabisco cookies and crackers, Philadelphia cream cheese, Oscar Mayer meats, Post cereals and Milka chocolates, in more than 155 countries.
For more information on Kraft Foods, please visit our website at www.kraft.com.
Altadis
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based cigar company Altadis USA Inc. said that in response to the catastrophic aftermath of Katrina, and in recognition of the needs of the victims, it has pledged an immediate $100,000 to the Red Cross. In addition, the company will match donations made by its employees, customers and vendors up to $200,000, for a potential total of $500,000.
The company said it wishes to extend its thoughts and prayers to its retailer family, customers, friends and citizens of the Gulf Coast who have been devastated by the storm.
Pinnacle
Petroleum and c-store industry automation technology provider Pinnacle Corp., Arlington, Texas, said it has instituted a program to match all employee donations made to Katrina relief efforts. It will also be making a corporate donation to the Red Cross, earmarked for those affected by the disaster. Pinnacle has more than 20 clients in the states hit hardest, it said.
The victims of such an unprecedented natural disaster need support right away, said Bob Johnson, president and CEO of Pinnacle. We felt that it was part of our responsibility being located in a neighbor state to help those in need in some small measure on behalf of our organization. From what we can see, it is a priority to get essential supplies deployed and start reconstruction of the affected areas.
VeriFone
San Jose, Calif.-based electronic payments company VeriFone Inc. has announced that it is supporting the efforts of Habitat for Humanity in its work to assist those in need resulting from the effects of Katrina. It is strongly encouraging its employees to make personal contributions and will match all gifts dollar for dollar. VeriFone will also guarantee that the total amount raised from the company and its employees will exceed $50,000.
Addressing VeriFone's worldwide employee base, Douglas Bergeron, chairman and CEO, said: We must move quickly to preserve and protect the lives and the dignity of these desperate people. Please consult with your families and agree to give up a meal, or an outing, or a purchase. Redirect that money to this rebuilding effort and use this event to teach your children that this is their responsibility to help.
Jim Coleman Co.
Houston-based car wash equipment company Jim Coleman Co.-Hanna organized a blood drive sponsored by the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Organization.
Enodis
New Port Richey, Fla.-based foodservice equipment company Enodis Plc said it has made an emergency donation of $20,000 to the Red Cross for hurricane relief efforts. Funds were allocated from the Enodis Foundation, which was established to support local charities in the communities where the company does business. Enodis will also match employee contributions to any qualifying charitable organization on a dollar-for-dollar basis, which will substantially increase its total contributions.
Our hearts go out to those who have lost so much because of this hurricane, said Dave McCulloch, CEO for Enodis. Were contributing these funds immediately on behalf of our employees to help the American Red Cross reach those affected, and extending additional support to equip relief agencies and local businesses during the recovery effort.
Enodis companies are working with a variety of other relief agencies to provide refrigeration, cooking and ice-making equipment for field and mobile kitchens being established in, and deployed to, the affected areas. It has also established several programs for food equipment dealers and service agencies located in, or serving, the stricken areas, helping those businesses recover more quickly in order to provide needed foodservice equipment for relief, repair and rebuilding.
Food is a fundamental requirement for life and recovery.Enodis is prepared to equip the kitchens of those agencies providing emergency relief to refugees, and the emergency relief workers dedicated to providing emergency support. As our business partners will play a key role in helping to feed those engaged in relief, repair and rebuilding, Enodis will equip them to assist with emergency food efforts by providing expedited equipment availability, temporary warehousing and staging, and other support essential to rebuilding foodservice infrastructure, McCulloch said.
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