Corporate America has opened its wallet to help Hurricane Katrina victims, donating cash, satellite radios and even massages, in what experts said could be a historic outpouring of aid.
Large companies led the giving. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. boosted its contribution Friday to $17 million. General Electric Co. pledged at least $6 million in cash and $10 million in medical devices.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Wednesday September 14, 2005 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 41 words Type of Material: Correction
Kaiser donations -- An article in the Sept. 3 Business section about corporate donations for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts said Kaiser Permanente had pledged $2 million. The healthcare provider said it had made two pledges worth a total of $3 million.
UnitedHealth Group Inc., which set aside $10 million for hurricane victims, sent one of its first checks to Houston after the mayor's office asked it to underwrite transportation of refugees.
Contributions came from a broad range of companies. Toyota Motor Corp. and its subsidiaries were among the biggest givers with a combined donation of $5 million. Oil companies, including Occidental Petroleum Corp. in Westwood, pumped in millions in cash, equipment and supplies. Entertainment giant Walt Disney Co. and biotech firm Amgen Inc. each gave $2.5 million, and healthcare provider Kaiser Permanente pledged $2 million, leading a long list of California-based corporate benefactors.
Charity experts said corporations were moving faster than in earlier disasters and, together with individuals and foundations, were setting a pace that could top the estimated $1 billion that flowed in in the wake of the 2001 terrorist attacks.
Estimates of the overall amount donated so far this week vary widely. The Chronicle of Philanthropy put the tab Friday night at $287 million. By comparison, it said, Americans gave $239 million in the 10 days after the Sept. 11 attacks, and relief groups raised $30 million within three days of last year's tsunami.
"At this point, the best estimates are we've raised around $400 million, including individuals, corporations and foundations, and that's before the concerts and organized drives," said Trent Stamp, executive director of Charity Navigator, a New Jersey-based watchdog. "If you reached for your checkbook in September of 2001, I certainly expect you will reach for your checkbook in September 2005."
Unlike previous disasters, experts said, the vast majority of donations have been directed to one group, the American Red Cross. The Washington-based nonprofit relief agency said it had received nearly $197 million, an increase of more than $125 million since Wednesday. Red Cross was benefiting from multimillion-dollar donations from big companies, including $3 million from San Ramon, Calif.-based Chevron Corp.
