Press Releases: National
October 15, 2005
Kaiser Permanente Pledges $1 Million for South Asia Earthquake Aid
Contribution will go to Four Major Relief Agencies
OAKLAND, Calif. – Kaiser Permanente is making a significant contribution to the relief effort following the earthquake that struck Pakistan, India and Afghanistan on October 8. This move comes in response to the mounting need for international assistance to the vast tragedy.
Kaiser Permanente is pledging a total of $1 million to four relief agencies. The contribution will be allocated as follows: $250,000 to Doctors Without Borders, $250,000 to Relief International's Pakistan Earthquake Fund, $250,000 to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, and $250,000 to Operation USA South Asia Earthquake Fund.
"We are responding to the growing number of deaths and the increasing challenges that survivors in south Asia are facing," said Raymond J. Baxter, senior vice president of Kaiser Permanente's National Community Benefit program. "Our social mission is focused on serving our communities. These are the communities of many of our employees and physicians. As a total health organization, we are committed to supporting health around the globe. Our hearts go out to those who have suffered this catastrophe."
"These four relief organizations have expertise in different areas," said Baxter. "Doctors Without Borders provides medical care and public health services, and Relief International assists in emergency medical aid and distribution, as well as earthquake-safe housing construction. The American Red Cross is linked to the Pakistan Red Crescent and Indian Red Cross chapters to deliver emergency aid, and Operation USA handles shipment of supplies, including much-needed winter shelter assistance for those left homeless by this disaster."
George Halvorson, chairman and chief executive officer of Kaiser Foundation Health Plans and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals Inc., said Kaiser Permanente wanted to back a variety of major relief organizations involved in the recovery from the quake. "We especially supported Doctors Without Borders and Relief International because these organizations extend the health care delivery work we do at Kaiser Permanente. These donations represent a broad spectrum of support for medical care services, food assistance, shelter, and rebuilding efforts, and reflect Kaiser Permanente's commitment to community benefit as a whole."
"The health and community needs of those in south Asia are immediate and long-term," said Peter diCicco, executive director, Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions. "We are partnering with Kaiser Permanente in its efforts to support the many victims of the earthquake."
Francis J. Crosson, MD, executive director of The Permanente Federation, said the response from the people of Kaiser Permanente has been tremendous. "Kaiser Permanente caregivers--many of whom have disaster-relief experience and are conversant in the languages and dialects of the affected regions have offered to go to these areas to help," Crosson said. "We're waiting for more specific information as to exactly the kinds of clinicians that are required and the locations where they are needed most."
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 8.6 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: www.kp.org/newscenter.
