Tsunami relief ...

I work for a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises. I'm not sure if they donated $$ to campaign issues, or to whom they may have donated. But they are apparently are making what appears to me to be a decent donation toward the relief effort.

The following email was in my inbox this morning. It came from someone high up at the corporate level (might be CEO, but I can't remember).


"It is estimated that the recent tsunami disaster will claim the lives of more than 155,000 men, women and children from 11 countries in southern Asia and Africa. Five million people are believed to be homeless and without basic necessities such as food, shelter, or drinking water. The spread of disease and contamination is a growing threat to the countries already suffering from the devastation.

Already, the U.S. government and other world nations have come together to pledge more than $4 billion to support the victims of this disaster. In addition, we know that many employees and Cox businesses have already supported relief organizations and are planning relief drives, telethons, running Public Service Announcements, and other aid programs. We thank you for your generosity.

Notwithstanding the aid already in progress, there is still very much work to be done.


How Cox is Helping:

To respond to this disaster, we have developed the Cox Tsunami Relief Effort but we need your help to make it even more successful. We want to share information about the program with you because so many of you have generously asked how you can help.

By partnering with the Red Cross and CARE, two international humanitarian organizations already on the ground helping victims and their families, we can make sure our donations quickly and directly get to those who need our help. Cox has a long history of supporting these agencies and we are confident that they will leverage our contributions efficiently and effectively.


Cox Tsunami Relief Effort consists of:

· A $4 million media commitment in donated PSA (Public Service Announcement) air time or ad space from all Cox companies. We will run ads developed by the Ad Council under the direction of former Presidents Bush and Clinton in collaboration with the USA Freedom Corps. Cox Communications has already earmarked $3 million in PSA air time for this effort.

· A $250,000 gift from the Cox Foundation split equally between the Red Cross and CARE.

· An easy way for you to help strengthen our Foundation gift by making online or check donations to the Red Cross and/or CARE.


How You Can Help:

Cox has developed three ways to make a donation and help strengthen our corporate gifts to the Red Cross and CARE.

1. Visit the Cox/CARE donation site for credit card donations. (Or paste this link into your browser {edited})

2. Visit the Cox/Red Cross donation site for credit card donations. (Or paste this link into your browser {edited})

3. Send a personal check donation made payable to :

CARE and/or The American Red Cross International Response Fund
(Include "Tsunami Disaster Relief" in the Memo field of your check)

Send your check(s) to:

Cox Tsunami Relief Effort

{address edited}


Tax Deductions:

All donations to the tsunami relief effort are tax deductible. Donations made before January 31, 2005 to aid the victims of the tsunami can be claimed on your 2004 tax return. Keep copies of your internet confirmation page for your tax records. If you are writing a personal check, make a copy of this check as your tax record.

I am so proud of, yet not at all surprised at, how quickly our companies and employees have been moved to support this crisis.


Thank you for helping Cox help those in need."



How does this compare with what other companies are doing?

...but it sure seems like Cox ought to be donating the $4 million it's planning to spend on PSAs, and use the $250,000 to take out full-page ads instead.

I doubt if at this stage anyone needs to be PSA'd into donating.