Port of Oakland, Its Employees, and Business
Partners Respond to the Tsunami Disaster
“In response to perhaps the greatest human
catastrophe of our time, the Port of Oakland launched a
Tsunami Relief Matching-contribution Campaign,” said
Patricia A. Scates, president of the Oakland Board of Port
Commissioners. Within 30 days from the start of the
campaign, Port of Oakland employees donated a total of
$22,013 to various tsunami relief charities. “The Port is
contributing a matching $22,013 to the American Red Cross
Tsunami Relief Fund,” Scates stated. The total contribution
from the Port of Oakland and its employees to Tsunami Relief
Efforts is $44,026.
Representatives of the American Red Cross
were invited to receive the Port’s matching contribution at
the regularly scheduled board meeting on February 15th.
Representing the Red Cross were Michael Jang, Chairman of
the Leadership Council for Alameda County, and Marian
Wilson-Sylvestre, Executive Officer of Alameda County. “We
are delighted that the Port recognizes the work of the Red
Cross in these disasters,” said Jang. “Public support for
this disaster has been tremendous and with the enormity of
the tragedy, we welcome all aid,” commented Wilson-Sylvestre.
“Many of the Port’s business partners have
employees, offices, and close relationships in the
tsunami-affected areas of Southeast Asia,” said Port of
Oakland executive director Jerry Bridges. “When we began
this campaign, we wanted it to be inclusive of our entire
community. Many of our business partners have taken
extraordinary steps toward the tsunami relief effort,” he
added.
Highlights of Port of Oakland Business Partners’ Tsunami
Relief Efforts:
> Federal Express is working with
six global relief agencies to provide transportation of
pharmaceuticals and relief supplies (i.e., children’s
medicine) to Sri Lanka and Indonesia. To date, they have
committed to transport more than 500,000 pounds (227,000kgs)
of relief supplies.
>
Dreisbach Companies has donated $10,000, equally split
between Americares and the American Red Cross.
> MOL
has made sizable cash contributions as an organization and
through its employee base and is providing free container
shipping and storage of relief supplies.
> NOL
has sent an initial contribution of $100,000 to the Red
Cross and is continuing to match employee contributions,
which brings its total contribution to date to $257,110 USD.
>
Global Aerospace provides general liability insurance for
the airport. They have raised $1,600 to date and are
committed to matching employee contributions up to $8,000.
>
Northern California Power Agency has made a significant
contribution from its employee base to the American Red
Cross.
>
Harris & Associates has also launched an employee matching
program and together has contributed $18,692 ($9,346
matching) to the American Red Cross.
> Tifco
Industries (Houston, Texas) has contributed an employee
matching total of $6,700 to the American Red Cross.
> AECOM
has also launched an employee matching program and has
donated to various organizations, including the American Red
Cross, CARE, Doctors without Borders, UNICEF, and American
Friends Service Committee.
> Marsh
Risk and Insurance Services (Marsh) has pledged $250,000 to
American Red Cross International Response Fund. All
Asia-based employee contributions will be matched and go to
UNICEF in Asia.
>
Crowley Maritime Corporation will match employee
contributions at 50 cents per dollar to the American Red
Cross.
> STL
has made a contribution of $25,000 towards relief efforts.
>
Wulsfberg, Reese, Colvig & Firstman has contributed $1,000
to the American Red Cross and is encouraging its employees
to make charitable contributions individually.
l AGS, Inc. (Consulting Engineers) has
contributed $500 to the American Red Cross Relief Fund.
> Golder
Associates, Ltd. Golder worldwide has contributed $50,000 to
the Tsunami relief efforts. Employees from its Canadian
operations have contributed a total of $39,108 CDN, and the
company contributed an additional $25,000 to RedR. RedR is
an organization that provides engineers and technical
personnel assistance to the UN agencies in support of
disaster
relief work.