Ryder Joins Red Cross Disaster Program

June 3, 2009
Ryder System agreed to provide $1 million over the next three years to support national and local disaster preparedness and response.

In announcing it would commit $1 million to the American Red Cross over the next three years for national and local disaster preparedness and response, Ryder System marked its largest national donation to the Red Cross. The Miami-based company pointed out it has been a significant philanthropic partner of the American Red Cross since 1991. In that time it has provided financial support to national headquarters and the Greater Miami & the Keys chapter of the American Red Cross, as well as supplying in-kind donations of trucks, sponsoring local Red Cross events and supporting local disaster relief efforts.

The majority of the $1 million gift, $850,000, will be designated to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, and the remaining $150,000 will be directed to the Greater Miami & the Keys chapter, Ryder said.

“In these difficult economic times when the need is so great, the generosity of partners such as Ryder allows the American Red Cross to be the helping hand to people in crisis,” said Gail McGovern, president and CEO of the American Red Cross. “We are so pleased that Ryder is expanding its philanthropic partnership to both the national and local levels of the Red Cross, and Ryder’s multi-year commitment to the Annual Disaster Giving Program enables us to have the resources to provide people with disaster relief for large-scale disasters such as a tornado, hurricane or wildfire, or a smaller disaster like an apartment or house fire in Florida.”

The Red Cross has also had a strong national business relationship with Ryder for many years, having been a Ryder National Rental customer since 1989. In addition to the $1 million financial commitment, under the umbrella of its National Rental program, Ryder is extending preferred pricing for rental vehicles to all local Red Cross chapters in the US. Ryder will also tap into its base of more than 20,000 US employees as part of a grassroots volunteer effort to support disaster preparedness and response activities in communities where the company operates.

“The American Red Cross is one of the most well respected charitable organizations in the world and we greatly value the contributions it makes to communities where we live and work,” said Greg Swienton, Ryder’s chairman and CEO. “As a transportation and logistics provider, we also understand the complexity and depth of timely resources needed to respond to disasters. It is this strong linkage between Ryder’s business and the Red Cross’ operational needs that drove us to select the Red Cross as Ryder’s primary, national charitable partner. Whether it’s through financial support, vehicle donations, or volunteer time from our employees, we want to do all we can to help increase the efficiency, capacity, and cost effectiveness of American Red Cross operations so the organization can continue to prepare and respond quickly and effectively in times of disaster.”

Ryder joins 18 other members of the Annual Disaster Giving Program, including: American Express, AT&T, AXA Foundation, ConAgra Foods, GE Foundation, FedEx Corp., JCPenney Company Fund, John Deere Foundation, Kimberly-Clark Corp., Merck & Co, Inc., MorganStanley, Nationwide Foundation, Raytheon Company, Ryder Charitable Foundation, State Farm, State Street Foundation, Target, The TJX Companies Inc. and UnitedHealth Group.

Visit RedCross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make a donation.

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