Ryder Supports American Red Cross Response to Recent Tornadoes in Midwest and Southern U.S.
Miami, April 28, 2011 — Financial support from Ryder System, Inc. (NYSE: R) through the Ryder Charitable Foundation is enabling the American Red Cross to help residents impacted by the band of tornadoes that recently made their way through Oklahoma, Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina, and Virginia, by offering a safe place to stay, a hot meal, and a shoulder to lean on.
In the days and weeks to come, the Red Cross will be coordinating with emergency officials and local community partners to help people impacted by the tornadoes get back on their feet. The Red Cross will keep shelters open as long as needed, in addition to providing mobile feeding and mental health support to those affected by the storm.
“Thanks to the generosity of our Annual Disaster Giving Program members like Ryder, the Red Cross is able to mobilize supplies and staff to provide help to people and communities in need,” said Neal Litvack, chief development officer at the American Red Cross. “These contributions, along with the support of the American public, are critical during floods and similar disasters because they enable the Red Cross to rush immediate relief to disaster victims before the first donation has been given.”
Weather forecasters with the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center say that the United States will experience a very active tornado season this year. According to The National Severe Storms Laboratory, about 1,000 tornadoes hit the U.S., yearly. Tornado season generally is in the spring when tornadoes are more prevalent from April through July, with May and June being the peak months.
Since the Annual Disaster Giving Program’s inception in 1997, members have pledged donations to the Red Cross in advance of major disasters to ensure an immediate response will meet the needs of people who are affected by disasters of all sizes, at no cost and regardless of income.
“As a member of the American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program, Ryder helps to ensure the Red Cross can be on the scene of a disaster at a moment’s notice,” said Bob Brunn, Vice President of Investor Relations and Public Affairs, and Ryder Charitable Foundation Executive Director. “We are proud to stand beside the Red Cross as they help those affected by disaster.”
Individuals can join forces with companies who are members of the Annual Disaster Giving Program and help provide food, shelter, emotional support and other assistance to the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the recent tornadoes, either by going to www.redcross.org or calling 1-800- RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make a donation.
Other members of the Annual Disaster Giving Program include major leading companies such as 3M, Altria, Aon, Cisco Foundation, ConAgra Foods, Darden Restaurants, Inc, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, FedEx Corporation, GE Foundation, The Home Depot Foundation, John Deere Foundation, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Kraft Foods, Lowe's Companies, Inc., Merck, Morgan Stanley, Nationwide Insurance Foundation, Northrop Grumman, Southwest Airlines, State Farm, State Street Foundation, Target, The TJX Companies, Inc., UnitedHealthcare, UPS and Walmart.
About Ryder
Ryder is a FORTUNE 500® commercial transportation, logistics and supply chain management solutions company. Ryder’s stock is a component of the Dow Jones Transportation Average and the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. Inbound Logistics magazine has recognized Ryder as the top third party logistics provider and included Ryder in its 2010 “50 Green Partners” listing. Ryder also ranked 114 out of the top 500 U.S. companies and sixth in its industry sector in the 2010 Newsweek Green Rankings. Security Magazine has named Ryder one of the top companies for security practices in the transportation, logistics, supply chain, and warehousing sector. Ryder is a proud member of the American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program, supporting national and local disaster preparedness and response efforts. For more information on Ryder System, Inc., visit www.ryder.com.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.
