Bertelsmann’s U.S. Companies And Employees Continue To Give Generously To Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Bertelsmann’s companies and employees in the U.S. have been generously offering their support and assistance to those in need along America’s Gulf Coast. Yesterday, BeNet summarized several of the charitable giving programs initiated by companies around the country. More of Bertelsmann’s businesses have formulated their plans for helping with the hurricane relief efforts. 

Random House, Inc. announced yesterday that it would donate $500,000 to the American Red Cross’s Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund. Random House Children’s Books donated 250,000 copies of their titles to the First Book organization for distribution to young readers in the storm-ravaged areas. Both of these generous contributions are complements to the special stand-alone extension for North America staff of its existing philanthropic matching grant program, in which they can give any amount, have it matched dollar for dollar separately from eligible per-annum donations for U.S. employees.

BMG Columbia House, Inc. and FremantleMedia North America have established their own special matching grant programs as well. BMG Columbia House created an employee matching gift program to benefit the Red Cross Katrina Fund and said, "The need for help is both obvious and immediate and we are proud to support the American Red Cross’s relief efforts for the victims of Hurricane Katrina by announcing an employee matching program for all donations." Additionally the company's Terre Haute facility sent a donation of supplies and clothing to the Louisiana relief efforts.

FremantleMedia is helping the victims of Hurricane Katrina with its matching program, which equals employee donations dollar for dollar, up to $5,000. "Staff in New York, Los Angeles and Miami can make a money pledge to the charity of their choice" and thus "direct their money to the areas they want to help the most, be it American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity or even one of the various animal charities." 

BMG Music Publishing will add a $50,000 corporate contribution to the funds it will match for employees and plans to give the monies to the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund.

In addition to the $10,000 it donated to the Salvation Army, Brown Printing has been working with the Red Cross to organize blood drives at its three plant locations in East Greenville, Pennsylvania; Woodstock, Illinois; and the Waseca, Minnesota headquarters. Employees will be taking time out of their day to donate pints of bloods for patients with medical needs around the affected area. Brown is also coordinating with local agencies to collect donations of clothing, food and other supplies.