14 DAY TRIAL // Earlier this week, Haiti was struck by a mighty earthquake that inflicted serious and widespread damage on the country's government infrastructure, as well as upon business and public institutions. To assist in the relief efforts, the Hewlett-Packard Company Foundation announced that it would be donating $500,000 for use in both short-term and long-term assistance.
The earthquake took place Tuesday night, at 16:53 local time (2153 GMT) and had a magnitude of about 7.0. It was reportedly the worst to hit Haiti in over 100 years and, according to United Nations’ estimates, the total number of people assumed dead reaches tens of thousands. HP will be granting the $500,000 to the American Red Cross, which will use the funds to fuel its current relief efforts and also the organization's plans to aid the long-term reconstruction that will be needed for rebuilding the country.
“We are all extremely shocked by the devastation that has hit Haiti, and we are pleased to be able to support the critical relief efforts being conducted by organizations such as the American Red Cross,” Marcela Perez de Alonso, chair of the HP Company Foundation and executive vice president of Human Resources, HP, said. “The road to recovery will be a long one, and we are working with our stakeholders, customers, partners and employees on additional in-kind services to provide ongoing support for this tragedy. Together we hope to help rebuild much of the vital infrastructure that was destroyed by the earthquake and help with many of the other relief efforts.”
In a move similar to that of Dell, Hewlett-Packard will also be offering, besides the $500,000 corporate money, an extra $250,000. HP's employees are making financial contributions of their own and the company is matching those eligible contributions in order for the funds to more easily and quickly reach the organizations capable of using them to assist in the recovery efforts.