Ranking the quake donations

In a small ceremony the other day, U.S. Ambassador Clark Randt handed over $500,000 in quake relief funds to China.

The Xinhua editors had some fun with that. They contrasted the modest U.S. gift with the $50 million pledge from Saudi Arabia in a headline displayed on their webpage.

If the Bush administration has been, er, restrained in its generosity, private U.S. companies have not. I’ve come across the following list compiled by the U.S.-China Business Council about pledges from U.S. companies for earthquake aid. Most of these companies also pledge to match employee donations for quake aid.

You be the judge: Are these donations adequate?

American International Group has made an initial pledge of $1 million to provide immediate recovery assistance through several different organizations.

Amway made an initial commitment of RMB 2 million ($286,000) to the Sichuan Red Cross through its Amway China affiliate to aid in recovery efforts. Half of the donations will be for the Red Cross to use for immediate disaster relief. The other half is designated for the reconstruction of a primary school that collapsed in Chengdu City and killed 50 students.

Anheuser-Busch is donating RMB 3.5 million ($500,000) to the Red Cross Society of China to aid relief efforts for earthquake victims. The company also will provide more than RMB 7.7 million ($1.1 million) or 425,000 cases of fresh drinking water to the area.

Applied Materials, through Applied Materials China, will be making a contribution of RMB 1 million ($143,000) to the Red Cross Society of China.

Bechtel is setting up a matching contribution fund for employee disaster relief contributions.

The Boeing Company has made an initial contribution of $250,000 to relief efforts and will match employee donations to the American Red Cross for disaster assistance.

Cargill along with its businesses and employees have to date provided approximately RMB 3.3 million (more than $450,000) to several Red Cross societies; the company will match global employee donations to these societies.

Caterpillar The Cat Foundation has made an initial gift of $50,000 to the American Red Cross to be used for disaster relief efforts in China and will also match cash contributions from Cat employees, retirees, and Cat dealer employees to the American Red Cross up to an additional $50,000. In addition, Caterpillar has initially deployed equipment valued at approximately $2.85 million, including machines and generator sets to be used in the recovery efforts, as well as a team of skilled equipment operators.

Chindex, a health care company with operations in China ’s southwest, is making in-kind donations directly in response to and delivered directly to those delivering care.  Chindex has also sent icepacks, bandages, rehydration salts, and hand disinfectants on a Red Cross charter plane with volunteers headed to Sichuan .

Chrysler is matching employee contributions.

Citi China will contribute over $500,000 through the Red Cross Society of China.

The Coca-Cola Company has already sent 10,000 cases of water for earthquake relief and has pledged a donation of RMB 5 million ($715,000) of cash and in-kind assistance.

The Dow Chemical Company has donated RMB 2 million ($286,000) to the Red Cross Society of China. Dow Greater China has also established an employee matching gift program.

ExxonMobil has contributed $50,000 dollars to date for relief efforts.

Ford Motor Company has announced an initial donation of RMB 5 million (over $700,000) in cash and vehicles together with its joint venture partners and investment companies in China.

General Electric and the GE Foundation are providing immediate funds of RMB 10 million ($1.4 million) to the Red Cross Society of China and over half a million dollars of equipment and services to enable ongoing emergency relief efforts.

General Motors Corp. and its Shanghai GM and SAIC-GM-Wuling joint ventures in China have made an initial donation of RMB 6 million ($860,000) to southwest China’s Sichuan Province to support rescue and reconstruction efforts.

The Home Depot and The Home Depot China has initially committed $100,000 to the China Charity Foundation and 1,000 tents and other supplies for earthquake survivors.

Johnson & Johnson affiliate companies in China have announced a commitment of RMB 10 million ($1.4 million) to the Red Cross Society of China.

Microsoft is making an initial donation of RMB 1 million ($143,000) to the Red Cross Society of China. 

Motorola has made donations to date of approximately $600,000 worth of cash, emergency communications equipment, mobile phones, and network services to Sichuan Province, including a cash donation to the Red Cross Society of China.

Pepsico has donated RMB 1 million ($143,000) to the Red Cross Society of China on May 13 and is providing product donations (food and beverages) to those in need.

The Procter & Gamble Company China has pledged RMB 1 million ($143,000) to the China Red Cross to help with relief work.

Qualcomm has donated $500,000 to the Red Cross Society of China to support relief and recovery efforts.

Tyco Electronics has made an RMB 1 million ($143,000) cash contribution to the Red Cross Society of China to assist with overall emergency efforts. So far, the company’s Network Solutions business segment in China has committed RMB 600,000 ($86,000) worth of products and services to help rebuild critical telecommunications and energy networks.

UPS is contributing a total of $1 million in cash and in-kind support to the earthquake relief efforts in China. UPS has also pledged an additional $500,000 for in-kind support to aid the transportation of relief supplies.

Wal-Mart has contributed more than RMB 3 million ($430,000) in relief to China in response to the recent earthquake. A portion of the RMB 3 million contribution will be given to the China Red Cross for disaster relief. In addition, assistance will be provided to help reconstruct the devastated communities.

Comments

[jeff]

Many Xinhua editors are just idiots.

[Robert]

As tragic as the aftermath of the earthquake is and how devastated the lives of those affected are, the editors who make this ridiculous comparison need to look in their own backyard to see how generous their own government is in assisting those in need. If I read the economic reports correctly, China has an incredible amount of financial resources (money) that could and should be directed towards those in need. And if the government is using all of its available resources to help those in need, fantastic! Do they really need outside help anyway... Criticize those that help you? I agree with the above post.... they are idiots.

[Search4T]

I guess it is ok for USCBC to compile the list to demonstrate the goodwill of its member companies - all with significant presence in China. But I don’t think people should make comparisons or judgments based on these figures. Even less so is comparing donations by countries, which is an idiotic exercise.

However I think there should be a comparison of charity organizations, especially those home-grown grass root level charities that, with their low corporate overheads and close ties with communities instead of the government, can get much needed public exposure during events like this so, they can grow and hopefully become legitimate alternatives for people to choose, given the scandals and controversies surrounding the large organizations such as the American Red Cross.

[A B]

Thank you for the generosity of American businesses and the American people.

I would say that the donations from American businesses are adequate, but the donation from the US Government is comparable in size to the donation given by the Chinese government to the US after Katrina.

If the Chinese press want to really make some fun of miser countries and governments, there is the Canadian government who failed to offer up a penny to date.

Want some real fun?

ZERO is the amount received from Tibetans in exile organizations, including the Dai Lai Lama.

This is from someone who earns millions to sell out crowds who pay to come see him in the US.

Isn't it nice to be a monk and can plead "poverty"?

Now.... about these Tibetan victims of the quake....

Thank heavens they have Chinese aid.

But then, the Chinese victims are also thankful for Tibetans who came to their rescue.

See:

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-05/16/content_6688672.htm

[ABC]

Given that China owns a large portion of U.S. debts, we shouldn't expect too much from U.S. government. The U.S. economy is close to recession, the gas price goes up to $4/gallon, and public universities in California just announce a 10% hike in tuition. Whatever extra money U.S. government or public has goes either to the Iraq War or to the presidential candidate campaign. $50,000 donation seems to be a lot if you think about it...

[RY]

One shouldn't judge others charitable acts. Is the thought that count.I wonder what is statistics of charitable donations from some the China's home grown billionairs.
Will there ever be a Bill Gates or Warren Buffet of China emerge in the future.

[JL]

It's a notorious pet peeve, or rather say, obsession, of the Chinese to make a ranking chart out of everything, from test scores in class to donation money figures. So this time i'm not at all surprised that some Xinhua editor decided to rank/compare international aids as always. They did the same to donation from companies and celebrities too.

[laughable]

It's really laughable to think of Xinhua editors that way since it was just news coming in the same time. I should be grateful for them recognizing American government's donation, in the headline, unless someone actually felt embarrassed by this amount. Amounts don't matter. Donations are more than money. I am grateful for both American government and companies, regardless of the amounts. China actually has sufficient resources more than all donations combined together. What matters is that American people care about those who suffered this disaster.
But I feel sorry for you to write this blog and make this list. Few Chinese people will see this, so if they are unhappy with the amount, they will continue to be and they will make another list of Chinese companies' donations, to make fun of these American companies further; if they care the attitude more than the amount, they will continue to do so. I don't want to guess the reason you wrote this blog but I hope it's not because that you have the same habit as JL suggested: "It's a notorious pet peeve, or rather say, obsession, of the Chinese to make a ranking chart out of everything".
---------------
@JL:
I haven't seen such a chart yet, mind sharing one?

[paolang]

I appreciate the help from the US government, American companies and American people. In fact I've just written a complaint email to the Xinhua English editor for the inappropriate headline.

[Wei]

Why not? The need for graciousness doesn't mean covering for American government?

Let facts speak for itself. Please see Chinese government response to Hurricane Katrina. China is the poorer country by far.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_response_to_Hurricane_Katrina

China - On September 2,(2005) the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it will offer $5 million along with emergency supplies, including 1,000 tents, 600 generators, bed sheets, immediately for disaster relief. China also offered to send medical care and rescue workers if they were needed.[5] This aid package consisting of 104 tons of supplies later arrived in Little Rock, Arkansas.[6] A chartered plane carrying the supplies arrived on September 7.[7]

[hehe]

500,000 by the richest nation in the world? Are you joking? Tell me how much is spent on ammuniation in Iraq every day?

[hehe]

500,000 by the richest nation in the world? Are you joking? Tell me how much is spent on ammuniation in Iraq every day?

[Jing Li]

Hi, as a Chinese student in America, I really appreciate what you wrote down. As a matter of fact, I intended to write similar stuff. Thank you for the opinion.

One thing I want to point out though is that there is a cultural difference between two countries. The Chinese like to do everything in a collective way while Americans like to do independently and individually. This might explain why Xinhua, as a so-called propaganda organ, would easily mistake the government as American people.

Another thing I was thinking about these days, was a question raised by my American classmate, why didn't China come to rescue in 911? There are two reasons for that: first of all, before 911, the two countries were in dispute because American military force went to China and caused one Chinese pilot dead in the crash, which irritated the Chinese. then, there were also Chinese communities and residents who donated in that event, unknown to the public.

thank you for the post after all. there is no reason to judge the amount of help others offered, it's stupid.

[Dana]

Robert, I'm sure China is using its resources to cope with the quake aftermath.

However, if you really want China to use up the American dollars it has, then be prepared for a wipeout of the US economy.

I really do not think that the US amount is a generous amount.

The US prides itself on being the so-called richest nation in the world, and yet when it comes to giving such as to the UN its normal fees or to relief efforts it really doesn't show that at all.

It is good that it has lots of companies compared to the rest of the world that have cover its back.

[jeff]

"I want coke." First thing one school student said after pulled out from rubbles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kR8Z-fgc68

[Pffefer]

Nobody should be ranking these, the Chinese should be grateful for the donations, small or large.

Out of curiosity, what exactly does the Xinhua title read?

[Lindel]

Many nations have specialized search and rescue teams who have experience finding survivors during other earthquakes and disasters around the world.

The first few days it is critical to locate those still alive and dig them out of the debris.

Dogs trained to hear and smell people, special equipment for locating infrared heat signatures and listening devices to locate people are used, along with special tools for cutting through the debris.

Many nations including the US offered to help to PRC with this critical search and rescue operation, but were turned done by the PRC.

The PRC is now allowing teams from Taiwan, Japan, and Hong Kong to go. That is not enough, the PRC needs to forget false pride, security concerns and other issues and immediately accept help from all the qualified experienced search and rescue teams from non-asian nations as well.

keeping track of dollar donations is meaningless when the PRC is turning away the more important assistance that has been offered to dig out the survivors who are still trapped.

[Ryan]

donation from these companies are praise worthy, but many are Chinese branch of US company, How much Coca Cola profited each year in China market, maybe 99% of employees are Chinese.
I would argue Cola Cola China is More Chinese company in this sense(so they can feel more of the national pain). I works in US I was stunned by the lack of interest here to this huge earth quake,If the same disaster happened in UK I can imagine the pouring of donation from American. There is a Chinese idiom says "friend can be close or remote" At people level its no supurise to me becaue we are so different, we just do not feel each other that much. To be fair I do not see much donation to US from China for Catrina either.once again the lack of feeling maybe mutual. but by and large $0.5m from the so called only super power which also claim moral authority, come on.
good work from the author to representing two side of story, great to facilitate mutual understanding.

[The Poster]

Just offer a comparison and also replying to the previous comment about Canadian government offering nothing. The Canadian federal government has just announced that the "matching" policy will be applied to the donation for China Earthquake. This means whatever amount of donation comes out of the Canadian popular effort will be matched by the government, dollar for dollar.

[The Poster]

Just offer a comparison and also replying to the previous comment about Canadian government offering nothing. The Canadian federal government has just announced that the "matching" policy will be applied to the donation for China Earthquake. This means whatever amount of donation comes out of the Canadian popular effort will be matched by the government, dollar for dollar.

[anyno]

How can teams of "experts" be accepted if they will need special accommendation, special translators, special transportation, and conditions in Sichuan are not safe enough to guaranteed for the foreign rescue team. And at the same time some of the countries offered to send rescue teams do not seem sincere at all? Even to an outsider reading news paper clipping from western media... I think China is doing the best within its abilities to accept foreign aid without hindering its rescue effort.

In respond to Tim's list of US based corporations that donated to the relief. I think it is great that they are being recognized for their effort. These companies have employees in China, most of these companies are closely affected by this diaster. Donation is an act of Charity, if a person/country decided to donate less or not donate at all, they should not be critized. But their personality is ineviatibily shown through the act. Sometimes actions speak louder than words.

[citioi]

China sends billions of dollars abroad supporting rogue nations. Why outside world need to help China?

[Blah]

Right now Taiwan tops the list with $71 million USD.

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTP28953020080515?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0

[shao zhen]

welcome to China.

Here is one of the complete list for companies that donate money on the Earthquake.

http://finance.sina.com.cn/blank/zzqyxd.shtml

Basically, total is about 500 million USD.The first pannel showed more than 160 companies that pledged more than 1.46 millionUSD (10 million yuan)

[shao zhen]

Here is another one, and almost any Chinese stars are included.

http://sports.sohu.com/dizhen/

Basically,
Jackie Chan, at least $1.4 million USD;
Yao Ming, currently $280,000 USD