The September 11th attack
Companies speed aid to relief effort
By Anna Dubrovsky
Bloomberg News Service
NEW YORK — Companies rushed to help victims and rescue crews in the aftermath of Tuesday's terrorist attacks, donating millions of dollars, their expertise, and products ranging from cookies to batteries to burn cream.
Large-dollar donations came from industry giants such as General Electric Co., Cisco Systems Inc., Microsoft Corp. and DaimlerChrysler AG.
General Electric, the biggest company by market value, pledged $10 million for a fund for the families of New York City firefighters and police officers killed in the attacks on the World Trade Center.
Cisco Systems Inc., the largest maker of computer networking equipment, is giving $6 million to relief agencies in New York and Washington, spokesman Steve Langdon said.
No. 1 software maker Microsoft Corp. is donating $5 million in cash and $5 million in technical support to rescue and relief efforts. The money will go to the newly created September 11 Fund, run in part by the United Way.
DaimlerChrysler, the No. 3 U.S. automaker, pledged $10 million to support the children of victims of the terrorist attacks.
Some companies coupled cash donations with supplies of signature products. Among them was drugmaker Novartis AG, which donated $3 million to the American Red Cross and offered its entire supply of Apligraf, a skin replacement used to treat burn victims.
McDonald's Corp., the biggest restaurant chain, said it was feeding search-and-rescue teams in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania and supplying blood donation centers with cookies and juice. McDonald's and the Ronald McDonald House Charities each donated $1 million to relief efforts and earmarked charity canisters in its restaurants for the Red Cross.
Anheuser-Busch Cos., the world's largest brewer, donated $1 million and 9,500 cases of canned water to the Red Cross.
Telecommunications companies pitched in even as they struggled to accommodate a surge in volume after the terrorist attacks.
AT&T Corp., the biggest U.S. long-distance telephone company, said it will give $10 million in prepaid long-distance calling cards to relief workers, in addition to donating $1 million to the Red Cross and committing $300,000 to match employee donations.
Verizon Communications Inc., the biggest U.S. local-phone company, was offering free local calling from 4,000 pay phones in Manhattan. The company also made 5,000 cellular phones available to emergency-response workers.
Products for victims and relief workers poured into Washington and New York. PepsiCo Inc., the second-largest producer of soft drinks, has delivered at least seven truckloads of food, soda, juice and water.
Among the other manufacturers donating food and beverages are Dr Pepper/Seven-Up Cos., a subsidiary of London-based Cadbury Schweppes Plc; Kraft Foods Inc., a unit of Philip Morris Cos.; Perdue Farms Inc.; and Kellogg Co.
Procter & Gamble Co., the top U.S. maker of household products, is sending cleaning supplies, diapers, toothpaste and some food.
Retailer Kmart Corp., the biggest discount chain after Wal-Mart Stores Inc., is providing relief crews with flashlights, batteries, blankets and food.
