Corporate Social Responsibility Press Release
provided by 
8.29.2008 - 04:00pm ET
News from:
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
U.S. Chamber Helps Businesses Prepare for Gustav
(CSRwire) WASHINGTON, DC. - August 29,2008 - The U.S. Chamber's Business Civic
Leadership Center has activated its National Disaster Help Desk for
Business (1-888-MY-BIZ-HELP) in preparation for what is expected to be
Hurricane Gustav's direct hit in the Gulf Coast region.
"Based on lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina, businesses across the
country are already mobilizing to help the Gulf Coast prepare for Gustav,"
said BCLC Executive Director Stephen Jordan. "We are prepared to do what is
necessary to help the appropriate authorities minimize the impact of the
storm."
Companies that want to be involved in potential relief and recovery
efforts are urged to contact the Help Desk. Participating businesses will
be asked to help afflicted companies with re-openings, infrastructure
rebuilding, and job training; coordinate with established
donations-management officials to send bulk donations; work with local
emergency management offices for appropriate credentialing needed to enter
a disaster zone; and avoid funding startup organizations and instead work
with established charitable partners.
Businesses in need of assistance following the storm are also encouraged
to call the Help Desk.
Tropical Storm Gustav is expected to become a Category 3 hurricane and hit
the U.S. Gulf Coast early next week. If necessary, BCLC will deploy a
donations coordinator and an economic-impact research team, similar to its
efforts after the 2008 Iowa flooding and the 2007 southern California
wildfires.
In response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita alone, U.S. businesses pledged
more than $1.2 billion in cash and in-kind assistance in the months after
the storms.
The National Disaster Help Desk for Business is made possible by funding
from the Office Depot Foundation. Further funding for BCLC's Disaster
Assistance and Recovery program comes from businesses actively involved as
disasters, including Allstate and the UPS Foundation.
BCLC is a 501(c)3 affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and
manages the U.S. Chamber’s Disaster Assistance and Recovery program and
serves as a resource and voice for businesses and their social and
philanthropic interests. The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business
federation representing more than 3 million business and organizations of
every size, sector, and region.
www.uschamber.com/bclc
www.chamberpost.com
For more information please contact:
Kitty Taylor, Sr. Manager, Communications
US Chamber Business Civic Leadership Center
202-431-1993
www.uschamber.com/bclc
www.uschamber.com/bclc
News Categories:
Philanthropy/Corporate Contributions and Community Development
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