Removing Debris on Delmas
by Paul Gordon
Caterpillar Inc.’s foundation has tripled the amount of the dollar-for-dollar match of donations to the Haiti relief efforts, thanks to the amount of donations coming from employees, retirees and dealers.
The Caterpillar Foundation will match up to $300,000 in donations, up from the original pledge of $100,000, said spokeswoman Bridget Young.
As of Wednesday, she said, there already was nearly $200,000 in contributions from employees, retirees and dealers.
Those contributions and match will be in addition to the Caterpillar Foundation’s outright contribution of $200,000 to the international Red Cross and Red Crescent relief efforts.
All told, that will amount to an $800,000 contribution from Caterpillar and the foundation.
“In addition, our dealers continue to make equipment available to assist with efforts in Haiti. Caterpillar is working closely with our dealers in the region and with governmental and non-governmental agencies to provide additional support where needed,” Young said.
Caterpillar and its dealer network are responding to relief efforts in Haiti and the surrounding Caribbean island nations affected by the earthquake.
Young said the Caterpillar Foundation has several proactive disaster relief recovery and rebuilding efforts already in place to help immediately when a disaster occurs, including funds deposited with Red Cross, World Food Program, CHF International and Pan American Development Foundation – all of which are now working in Haiti. “We are continuing to work with these agencies to assess additional needs,” she said.
Other examples of Caterpillar’s help include:
– Through its dealer in Haiti, Haytrac, and working closely with governmental and nongovernmental agencies responding to the disaster, the company is making equipment available to support rescue and recovery efforts.
– Hydraulic excavators and medium wheel loaders are being deployed to Rio Haina, Dominican Republic, to provide a faster response for the needs in Haiti.
– Caterpillar equipment operators have been deployed to Haiti to assist with rescue and recovery operations.
– In order to better serve the Haitian dealer and customers responding in the affected region, Caterpillar has temporarily suspended parts emergency order fees and established an escalated parts ordering process for the Haitian dealer.
– Caterpillar dealer IMCA, located in the Dominican Republic, is evaluating electrical needs for Port-au-Prince and continues to respond to ongoing needs in the region.
