Friday, March 11, the largest
earthquake in
Japan’s recorded history wreaked devastation, registering 8.9 on the
Richter scale and hitting the coast of the northern part of the
country.
Enormous tsunami waves wiped away entire coastal towns and
caused havoc among nuclear plants which continues to this day
including explosions, and dangerously high amounts of leaked radiation.
What can a leader do?
Providing assistance today are financial
commitments from
the business community. According to the U.S. Chamber's Business
Civic Leadership Center, they are so far responsible for $137 million
in
cash and in-kind contributions (i.e., product and services).
This
amount is currently the fourth-largest corporate response to a natural
disaster, behind only Hurricanes Katrina and Rita ($1.8 billion), the
Indian Ocean Tsunami ($566 million) and last year's Haiti earthquake
($146.8 million). Several companies have also designed special products
and programs to help support the cause.
Your efforts, too, can help the
people of Japan. Large or small, every contribution makes a difference.
For
example, 10% of all profits I earn in the
months of March and April will go directly the American Red Cross
and
Americares through the two channels mentioned below. It may not
reach a million dollars, but it is a scale I can manage. What works for
you and your organization?
Here are some of the efforts underway, including
ways
you can contribute:
- The American Red Cross has contributed an
initial $10 million to its main partner in the country - the Japanese
Red Cross - to help with their medical and relief activities. As
pledges are fulfilled and additional donations received, the American
Red Cross will make additional commitments to help the people
affected by the earthquake, tsunami and evolving nuclear emergency. Learn more and donate here.
- AmeriCares and its relief workers in Japan
are working to deliver medicines and supplies to hospitals,
shelters and health responders to treat and care for survivors. Learn more and onate
here.
- The Western Union Company has activated a
limited-time "No Transfer Fee" program for money transfers sent to
Japan from participating agent locations around the world. The "No
Transfer Fee" service allows consumers to send money to help loved ones
affected by the earthquake and tsunami, and will be
available March 17 through April 17, 2011.
Forty-four companies have donated $1 million or
more,
including Abbott, Aflac, Amgen, Bank of America, Bayer, Boeing,
Caterpillar, Coca-Cola, Disney, Dow Chemical Company, Eli Lilly and
Company, Exxon Mobil, GE, Goldman Sachs, GlaxoSmithKline, Jeffries,
Johnson Controls, JPMorgan Chase, McDonald's, Medtronic, Microsoft
Corporation, Morgan Stanley, Prudential, Samsung, Toyota, United
Technologies Corp., and UPS Foundation.
Regardless of the amount you give, providing funds
to the people of Japan is a humanitarian act with global impact.
Help your employees find ways they can give appropriately. Link
your organization's success to compassion, altruism, and impact where
it matters most, for people in need.
Join me May 12 & 13 in Wash, DC, for this very
cool, innovative, and seriously fun event. These two days, hosted by
Steve Denning and I, will be dedicated to remaking the management
mindset; that is, reinventing business, governmentt, education, and
health.
All the good information is here.
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