Diageo Airlift Provides Aid to Haitian Earthquake Victims
Monday, 18 January 2010 08:59
MIAMI, Fla.—Diageo, the world's leading spirits, beer and wine company, delivered more than 45,000 pounds of food and emergency supplies to earthquake victims in Haiti Friday.
Diageo's specially commissioned 727 aircraft departs Miami Friday morning. This mission is part of Diageo's Spirit of the Americas Humanitarian Aid program, an ongoing effort to deliver critical assistance to disaster zones and communities where Diageo's employees and their families work and live.
"The devastation caused by this earthquake is unimaginable. Honestly, working for Diageo, I am humbled that the business gives us the opportunity to do what we can for those who have been so impacted by this disaster," said William Bullard, Diageo corporate relations director, Latin America and Caribbean. "We will remain committed to providing relief and working together to rebuild in Haiti."
Diageo's airlift departed Jan. 15, 2010, at 8 a.m. from AmeriJet International Airlines, located at 6185 NW 18th St. in Miami. The 727 aircraft delivered 45,000 pounds of disaster relief including new World Health Organization (WHO) sanctioned emergency health kits. The health kits contained enough materials to provide basic medical care to more than 10,000 people for 90 days, which is critical as every hospital in Haiti was either damaged or destroyed by the earthquake.
Diageo also sent food supplies including beans, rice, cooking oil and Ensure. The Washington Redskins will join with Diageo to deliver a second round of aid workers and of emergency supplies to Haiti. Redskins' owner Dan Snyder has donated use of his private airplane for this effort. It was scheduled to depart for Haiti on Sunday morning with clothing donated by the team, along with relief personnel and supplies.
"Diageo has been involved in relief efforts around the world for many years, and we're fortunate to be able to partner with them," Snyder said. "Getting the right people and supplies to Haiti is critically important, and we're providing our best resources."
"On behalf of Diageo's nearly 30,000 employees worldwide and those who distribute our products in Haiti, we are honored to be able to deliver assistance in this time of need," said Guy Smith, executive vice president, Corporate Relations, Diageo North America. "It is our hope that these emergency provisions will give hope and safety to those who were stricken by this terrible disaster."
Diageo holds a minority stake in Brasserie Nationale d'Haiti S.A., a brewery located in Haiti's capital city of Port Au Prince. Brasserie Nationale d'Haiti S.A has more than 1,300 employees, locally brews Guinness beer and distributes many of Diageo's leading products, including Smirnoff, Johnnie Walker, Baileys and Tanqueray.
Established in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, the Spirit of the Americas program provides immediate relief and disaster aid around the world. In the hours and days after 9/11, Diageo and its employees provided numerous relief activities and assistance at Ground Zero and went on to provide funding for families who lost loved ones and donated computers for New York's Emergency management. Since then, Diageo has conducted more than 20 humanitarian missions from Kabul to the Caribbean. Just this past year, Diageo provided critical supplies to Salvadoran communities hit hard by Hurricane Ida.
In 2008, Diageo offered relief to flooding victims in Iowa and Haiti, and hurricane victims along the Gulf Coast. This included sending bottled water, special relief kits, and high-powered generators to help sustain the victims of these natural disasters. In 2008, Diageo also provided the first humanitarian aid to reach Haiti after Hurricane Hanna hit the island.
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