New York, New York, January 19, 2010 — Carnegie Corporation of New York’s Board of Trustees today approved a recommendation by the foundation’s president, Vartan Gregorian, and Board chair, Governor Thomas Kean, to respond to the human suffering left after the earthquake in Haiti by pledging $2 million dollars to immediate relief efforts.
“At a time of such heartbreaking and indeed, almost unimaginable human tragedy and catastrophic devastation caused by the earthquake, it is incumbent upon philanthropy to transcend geographic, political and even programmatic boundaries in order to help alleviate the suffering of millions of people,” said Gregorian.
The Corporation will release $1 million immediately to relief organizations that are responding to the disaster, and, at a later date, expects to release up to an additional $1 million for longer-term reconstruction efforts such as the building of new schools.
Said Gregorian, “We deeply believe that the men, women and children of Haiti need to hear the message being sent to them from so many corners of the world: we are with you in the hour of your ordeal and we will help.”
Gregorian continued, “New York City, the home of Carnegie Corporation, is also home to one of the largest communities of Haitians outside of Haiti itself. As New Yorkers, we are united in our efforts to respond to the enormous and ongoing losses, many suffered by men and women who are our colleagues, our neighbors, our friends.”
Carnegie Corporation has also approved a fast track process for its employee matching gift fund to help expedite charitable contributions by the foundation on behalf of staff members’ donations to eligible nonprofit organizations involved in the relief efforts in Haiti.
Carnegie Corporation of New York is a philanthropic foundation created by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 to do "real and permanent good in this world."