GE - General Electric Company

08/15/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/15/2022 13:14

GE Foundation Announces Grant to Support Kentucky Flood Survivors

US$50,000 grant to fund the delivery of medicines, relief supplies and emergency funding
for
health facilities in the hardest hit communities

Boston - Aug. 15, 2022 - The GE Foundation today announced a donation of US$50,000 to support immediate relief efforts in Kentucky, which is grappling with devastating recent flooding due to powerful storms that struck Appalachia. The grant will help fund Americares response to the crisis, which includes deliveries of medicines and relief supplies to support survivors, as well as emergency funding to help restore health services in affected communities. In addition to the organization's donation, GE employees can support relief efforts through the Matching Gifts Program.

"We are proud to work with our long-time partner, Americares, to help Kentucky families that have been impacted by the devastating recent flooding," said Linda Boff, President, GE Foundation.

GE employees who make eligible donations to Americaresor other participating charities can register for a match with the GE Foundation's Matching Gifts program, which supports employees' personal philanthropy and charitable giving by providing a 1:1 match. The GE Foundation created the concept of a corporate matching gift program in 1954. Today, the program continues to serve as an important element of the Foundation's portfolio, with gifts matched in 2021 totaling $6.2 million.

"The flooding in southeastern Kentucky has devastated communities and put the health of thousands at risk," said Americares U.S. Director of Emergency Response Mariel Fonteyn. "Health facilities in the region will need our long-term support, and this generous donation from the GE Foundation will help to ensure that we can continue to address the most urgent needs and restore health services for survivors."

An Americares emergency response team deployed to southeastern Kentucky in the immediate aftermath of the storm and went door-to-door to health facilities in the hardest hit communities to assess the needs and offer assistance to meet the immediate needs of survivors, including displaced families. To date, the health-focused relief and development organization has sent more than 7 tons of medicines and relief supplies, including hygiene kits, masks and tetanus vaccines, to two partner organizations in southeastern Kentucky supporting survivors.

GE's Disaster and Humanitarian Relief program responds to major global disasters and humanitarian crises, drawing on GE's people, technology, and other resources to reduce suffering and hasten recovery. In December 2021, the GE Foundation made a disaster relief grant to Kentucky families whose homes were destroyed by tornadoes across the region. GE remains committed to preparing for and responding to future natural disasters and humanitarian crises, diligently maximizing the impact of our financial, technological, and human resources.

About Americares

Americares is a health-focused relief and development organization that saves lives and improves health for people affected by poverty or disaster. Each year, Americares reaches 85 countries on average, including the United States, with life-changing health programs, medicine, medical supplies and emergency aid. Americares is one of the world's leading nonprofit providers of donated medicine and medical supplies. For more information, visit americares.org.

About the GE Foundation

The GE Foundation, an independent charitable organization funded by GE, is committed to transforming our communities and shaping the diverse workforce of tomorrow by leveraging the power of GE. Through Next Engineers, we are increasing the diversity of young people in engineering. In our hometown of Boston, we are working to improve workforce diversity, attack the opioid crisis, and drive STEM education in public schools. We are also inspiring others to act by connecting GE people with communities through our Matching Gifts Program and Disaster Relief. Learn more at www.gefoundation.com or follow us on Twitter at @GE_Foundation.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Jeff Caywood
Director, Headquarter's Communications
GE
+1 857 337 4101
+1 617 443 2993
[email protected]Jacqueline Serna
Americares
+1 (203) 379-7966
[email protected]

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