DONATIONS WITH KNOWN MONETARY VALUE $350,000,000 US Gov't 35,000,000 Pfizer Inc. (cash and drugs) 12,000,000+ Amazon.com (website donations to Red Cross) 10,000,000 Coca-Cola Co. (cash) 5,000,000 Exxon Mobil Corp. (cash) 5,000,000 Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (cash & drugs) 3,000,000 Citigroup Inc. (cash) 3,000,000 Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (cash) 3,000,000 Merck & Co. Inc. (cash) 2,000,000 Johnson & Johnson (cash) 2,000,000 Abbott Laboratories Inc. (cash) 2,000,000 Wal-Mart Inc. (cash) 1,000,000+ PepsiCo. (bottled water) 1,000,000+ AOL members (cash) 1,000,000+ Catholic Relief Services (cash donations) 1,000,000+ Mercy Corps 1,000,000 Nike Inc. (cash) 1,000,000 American Express Co. (cash) 1,000,000 General Electric Co. (cash) 1,000,000 First Data Corp. (cash) 1,000,000 The Pew Charitable Trusts of Philadelphia (cash) 200,000+ Islamic Relief USA (cash) 200,000 Computer Associates International Inc. (cash) 100,000 Starbucks (cash) 441,500,000+ Current Total DONATIONS OF UNKNOWN MONETARY VALUE US Military - USS Abraham Lincoln Aircraft Carrier Battle Group; USS Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group; 8,000+ troops; 21+ Seahawk helicopters; teams of Navy SEALs, U.S. Army Special Forces, military doctors; Two to four C-17 Globemaster III cargo jets, six+ C-130 Hercules transports, six CH-53s, six CH-46s, various ships & supplies from Diego Garcia & Guam, P-3 Orion surveillance aircraft Merck & Co. Inc - unspecified amount-drugs/medical supplies Johnson & Johnson - unspecified amount-drugs/medical supplies Abbott Laboratories Inc. - unspecified amount-drugs/medical supplies Roche Group - unspecified amount-drugs/medical supplies GlaxoSmithKline PLC - unspecified amount-drugs/medical supplies Coca-Cola - regional plants delivering supplies PepsiCo Inc. - regional plants delivering supplies Marriott International Inc. - regional plants delivering supplies Starbucks - In Thailand, all of Wednesday's profits; $2 for every pound of certain coffees sold in January in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and Germany. First Data's Western Union - free money transfers from U.S. and Canadian donors to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Wal-Mart Inc. - collection containers in all of its stores These Businesses aren't looking for sales. They're helping out those in need.
** Giving is good but I always think it is important not to get too complacent and to put such giving in context, so to pick a few of these examples at random. “350,000,000 US Gov't” is one and a half days spending on the Iraqi occupation 10,000,000 Coca-Cola Co. In 1999, Coca-Cola spent $511 million on promotional activities on top of $355 million in advertising. That same year, Coca-Cola spent $1.6 billion on marketing worldwide. (Advertising Age) 5,000,000 Exxon Mobil Corp. “Exxon Mobil Corp., the world's largest publicly traded oil company, posted record profits of $5.79 billion yesterday” San Diego Union Tribune 30 July 2004. 2,000,000 Wal-Mart Inc. (cash) “Despite nearly $9 billion in profits in 2003, Wal-Mart wages are so low many employees are eligible for food stamps.” www.aflcio.org **
Don't forget Japan who has given around $500 million, and Germany who has given around $650 million. I heard on the radio today that so far there has been over $2 billion given in aid. And BTW, Balbus, thanks for putting our corporate contributions in context for us. A half a mill is chump change for Exon, and Walmart could have been completely whiped out by the tsunami for all I care.
lol ya good one Balbus......hey how much did you give? Was it 1/2 your income? A 1/4? An 1/8? I mean let's put this in context, because you are awfully quick to judge.
You're right, one person making 30k a year goes belly-up and only his life is fucked up, not the thousands of people who get fucked when a corporation folds. But it's interesting to note that most of the companies listed have a huge economic interest in the region...
** Diomedes This month I gave 10% of my monthly income. Walmart for example is said to make nine billion profits a year. So I think that is a monthly income of 750 million, 10% of which would be 75 million. They according to your list gave 2, which I presume will be tax deductible. Also it has to do with what you think you can reasonably afford, I have a baby on the way and so I’m trying to be cautious. What do you think walmart could reasonably afford? And I’ll probably give more money later. **
More than they are giving. Good for you, Balbus. Even with a baby on the way, you are helping. I gave $100.00 and will probably give more.
Maggie's right, good for you Balbus. What Wal-Mart can "afford" is entirely irrelevant. You seem to think Balbus, that you can tell the company how to spend there money and how much to spend simply because they have more than you. That is what you are getting at is it not? That because they have more money, they should give more. I posted the list because I think it is incredible how these corporations are aiding those in need (hell it's even costing them in labor and organization), the thought of them giving more never really crossed my mind.
** Diomedes You say you posted the list “because I think it is incredible how these corporations are aiding those in need” But what was your motivation for doing so? I know that there is a debate over aid after the UN representative called the west ‘stingy’ and I can only think that your post was a conscious (or possibly unconscious) reaction to those criticisms. I mean this seems like you are trying to highlight the giving, the generosity, of these institutions, however you meant it to come out the impression is that you want us to be impressed by these donations. As I pointed out the giving of any amount to a worthy cause is good, but before being impressed by any ‘incredible’ donation to the needy it is important to put that gift in context. For example I am incredible impressed by the many low income families that have given just £10 because it hits them hard, a £100 from a comfortably off individual is a great contribution because again it has an impact, but if someone with incomes in the millions donates 100 even a 1000 pounds, sorry but that just leaves me underwhelmed. So when a company which counts income in the billions gives a couple of million and will make sure it gets the tax breaks, I’m sorry but that doesn’t seem so incredible and I think only the gullible would be that impressed. When it comes to charity institutions and individuals give according to their conscience and their means. It is not up to me to dictate how much anyone or any institution should give (although collectively people have changed such policies). I only wished to show such giving in context so that people can be suitably impressed (or not). What I would ask you is why you seem to continue to be so incredibly impressed when the relative context has been made clear? ** An aside It brings up an interesting question, at what point should the more powerful be praised or condemned. Should we praise Scrooge for allowing a fire in the office or condemn him for not allowing it to actually warm his employees? Should we praise Walmart for giving people a job or condemn them for paying so little that it is claimed that employees can claim food stamps and in many cases need them to survive? Should we condemn the obviously wealth for giving relatively small amounts to charity or praise them for giving anything at all? **
Ya well I was pretty drunk when I did it so I couldn't really tell you. It was probably a mixture of 1, I think it is great what they and the government are doing, and/or 2, trying to get a rise out of the America hating American residents here on Hip Forums. As far as what other countries (and especially the collective UN) think, I'll take the George Bush stance, who cares, quit your whining, adopt some liberal economic policies and see what happens. Other countries are seemingly taking your stance Balbus, you've got more......I should have more too! That isn't true at all, nothing requires them to donate any money at all, don't you see that?! You act like it all goes to one person man....who is the gullible one here? I said I thought it was incredible. I will be impressed when their money takes effect in the form of results. That's great your heart goes out to those who give with less money in their pocket, but it ain't gettin' much done. I find the amount of money given incredible, and the results of their millions donated to pay off much more (than the family who gives 10 Euros) for the victims of the Tsunami waves. I find the donations incredible yes. No one asked these companies to do anything, if you feel that in order to be impressed they should give more; I do not know what to tell you - except that I'm sure the disaster victims feel a bit differently!
** Your thinking seems confused one moment you seem to say that the amount of money isn’t relevant the next you say that a company donation of a million is better as it can "pay off much more" than a family giving 10. If the bigger size of the donation is better and the companies - as shown - could afford more and are giving proportionally less than many individuals then why would the victims or anyone else be impressed? You then seem to say that just the fact that these companies gave anything is impressive since they didn’t have to give anything. So are you saying that even if they had just given 10 rather than a million people should still have been impressed? Do you see my difficulty, just what is it you are trying to say and have you a coherent argument to put forward? ** "I'll take the George Bush stance, who cares, quit your whining, adopt some liberal economic policies and see what happens." I know there are those people who think these Asian countries should be thankful and impressed by whatever is given to them by western countries like the US. That the main reason that they need help anyway is because they are somehow ‘backward’. Are you one of them? By the way just what are these "liberal economic policies" you are talking about.
What is a shame is all the talk from Bush and Clinton about how our donations should help our reputation in the Muslim world. Of course just them showing an alterior motive is enough to completely negate any help it may have been Of course alterior motives is what politics is all about...
• Saudi Arabia: $10 million • United Arab Emirates: $2 million Its pretty sad that the most oil rich countries are giving the least.
i think it is wonderful the amount of money our countries are donating....i know some companies could afford more, but they are still contributing fantastically...i just wonder about the really big celebrities...they have so much money themselves...is oprah winfrey donating??? tom cruise??? people like this have huge incomes and i hope they are donating large sums... ....i myself am going to donate some money on monday -it wont be much at all but i believe every dollar does count..i wish it could be more, but it is what is expendable...
I read Sandra Bullock donated $1 million. She did the same to the WTC victims too. Edit: Just to add, there are some businesses that will match any donation you give, so anyone wanting to give money should look into local businesses that will do that. I remember hearing on the radio about some local to Austin that are. I had already donated to the Red Cross when I heard it, but would have liked to have my donation doubled.
