Bayer Makes $260,000 Relief Contribution

Bayer Corp. , parent company of Bayer Environmental Science , announced that it has made a $260,000 donation to Save the Children , a nonprofit humanitarian relief and development organization focusing on the welfare of children in crisis and emergency situations. The donation will go to help children victimized by the earthquake and tsunami that struck Southeast Asia in December 2004.

Bayer had organized a program to match U.S. employees’ monetary donations dollar-for-dollar. Just three weeks after establishing the program, donations topped the quarter-of-a-million-dollar mark. “Bayer employees always step up in times of need,” said Attila Molnar, president and chief executive officer of the Pittsburgh, Pa.-based chemical company. “I’m particularly gratified by this outpouring of support, and I’m pleased to be able to provide our contribution to Save the Children whose work is so critical.”

Bayer’s $260,000 donation will help Save the Children carry out long-term rebuilding and recovery projects, including skills training; loan assistance; repairing and rebuilding of schools, homes and health centers; and providing emotional support for trauma victims.

“We are grateful for the generous support from Bayer Corp. employees for our relief and recovery efforts in the areas affected by the recent earthquake and tsunami,” added Charles MacCormack, president and CEO of Save the Children. “Our emphasis is to bring immediate and lasting, positive change to children affected by this disaster.”

In other news from Bayer, corporate lead Bayer AG , headquartered in Leverkusen, Germany, also announced last week that it has increased its aid for the tsunami-region flood victims. The sum of EUR 10 million (approximately $13,243,544*) in cash and non-cash donations promised just a few days after the tsunami has now been raised to around EUR 13 million (approximately $17,217,074*).

“The response from our employees and our companies in many countries deserves tremendous recognition,” said Werner Wenning, chairman of the board of management of Bayer AG. “It is now a matter of continuing to support people in Southeast Asia who are in dire need, and helping to rebuild the countries over the long term."
 
Together with other German companies, Bayer is involved in setting up a number of medical centers in India and will also contribute towards the salaries of the medical staff for several years. Each of these medical care facilities will be within reach of several villages. The possibility of building centers such as these in Sri Lanka also is being examined. These are long-term development projects. Bayer has promised a total of EUR 500,000 (approximately $662,253*) to support this aspect of the campaign.

In the "Indogerm-direct" initiative in Indonesia, which is being run under the patronage of the German Embassy and the German-Indonesian Chamber of Trade and Industry, a number of German companies including Bayer have decided to finance medium and long-term reconstruction measures via a trust account. The board of trustees, organization committee and various working groups get together to develop, coordinate and control the individual projects. Bayer will also subsidize this project with a sum of EUR 500,000 (approximately $662,253*).

The group’s different activities are being coordinated locally through the Bayer country companies. “Solidarity with the victims of the tsunami is a very special concern for our company and it underscores our long-term social commitment,” Wenning added.

(*Based on an exchange rate of 1.3245 EUR per USD as of press time)