GE CitizenshipGE Donations to China Exceed $4 Million
On May 12, 2008, a major earthquake measuring 8.0 on the Richter scale occurred in Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province, China. The earthquake was so severe that people living thousands of miles away experienced it. The earthquake caused serious damage to Sichuan as seen in news reports from the region, with a death toll approaching 70,000. Although GE has employees in the area, fortunately no GE employees or their immediate family members were injured.
Within two days of the earthquake, GE and GE Foundation made a donation of RMB 10 million in cash to the Red Cross Society of China, and over RMB 5 million worth of equipment, including Consumer & Industrial lighting equipment. Our Consumer & Industrial colleagues, including hourly employees at the Shanghai Lighting and S-JV plants, made monetary donations and were joined by over 7,000 other GE employees in Greater China who collectively contributed over RMB 3.1 million in cash to the Red Cross Society of China. And, GE Foundation matched these employee donations, adding another RMB 3.1 million to the relief effort.
Chairman and CEO, Jeff Immelt, announced that GE is donating more than U.S. $1.4 million in additional water and medical equipment to hospitals and communities in earthquake impacted areas in the Chengdu, Gansu and Sichuan provinces in China.
The equipment will join water purification, emergency lighting, X-ray, anesthesia, ultrasound, monitoring and other equipment dispatched within the first week after the earthquake.
Donated equipment include:
GE Water & Process Technologies
- Homespring Central Water Purifiers
GE Healthcare
- Patient monitors
- Portable black/white ultrasound units
- Anesthesia machines
- Portable ventilators
- LingLong 500MA Mobile X-ray
GE Consumer & Industrial
- Flood lighting fixtures to assist on-site lighting in the rescue work
This announcement, when combined with previous equipment and cash donations raises GE’s contribution to disaster relief efforts to more than RMB 30 million. Within two days after the earthquake, GE and GE Foundation made donations of U.S. $1.4 million in cash to the Red Cross Society of China and over $600,000 worth of equipment. In addition, over 7,000 GE employees in Greater China have contributed RMB 6.2 million in cash and matching gifts to the Red Cross Society of China.
GE has also mobilized local field support engineers to help with immediate restoration of power, water and hospital systems. GE Volunteers in China are working through their networks to organize local support and align our employees in the region. The support from all employees around the world is greatly appreciated and recognized.
The Chinese Red Cross, supported by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent, are intensely involved in rescue and relief activities. GE will continue to provide direct support with technical skills, equipment and personnel to support relief efforts and begin the rebuilding process.