Haiti earthquake and my plea to corporate America. pt2

A woman raises her arms for products as people loot from a destroyed shop after Tuesday’s earthquake in Port-au-Prince, January 16, 2010. (REUTERS/Carlos Barria)

“My heart is bleeding for the people of Haiti.”

Since I posted my ‘Haiti earthquake plea to corporate America, pt1‘ I’ve received many emails and direct messages with comments, thoughts, suggestions and encouragement. In some ways, I think I’m starting to touch a citizen consumer ‘raw nerve’.

I now feel compelled to post part 2 of my plea, its purpose, is to begin the process of accelerating the discussion beyond that of the Haitian earthquake tragedy.

‘Imagine’ what would be possible, if corporate America, approached ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’ and ’cause marketing’ with a renewed sense of purpose, urgency and focus.

My plea to corporate America is for ‘Corporate Social Responsible’ and ’cause marketing’ to become a 21st century business imperative.

“Dear Corporate America,

I know that everyday you try your best to;

FEED us

CLOTHE us

QUENCH us

SHELTER us

EDUCATE us

PROTECT us

TRANSPORT us

INFORM us

CONNECT us

ENTERTAIN us

and for  all of these things, I am grateful.

Sometimes, I am mesmerized by the creative ingenuity of the marketing methods you utilize to communicate your product message(s).

However, there are a few thoughts and ideas going around in my head that I feel compelled to share with you.

I’m framing my thoughts and ideas, in the form of an ‘Imagine’, so here goes!

IMAGINE if it was possible, to put business at the service of humanity, in totally new ways

IMAGINE if it was possible, to activate humanity (consumers) like never before, in the fight to eradicate poverty

IMAGINE if it was possible, to make authentic ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’ and ’cause marketing’ the front and center pillars of your communication strategy

IMAGINE if your relationship with consumers, was built around a dialog driven and participatory ‘two way’ relationship

IMAGINE if the very people you market, advertise and sell products and services to, each and every day, are also your most powerful ’cause marketing’ asset

IMAGINE if  it was possible with the ‘might’ of your marketing ingenuity and creativity, to transform the lives of people and communities all over the world for EVER.

My hope, is that in years to come, we will ALL look back at the Haitian earthquake tragedy, as THE defining moment, when you came to realize, and accept, your responsibility to humanity, is, at an absolute minimum, equal of that to your shareholders. This would be a befitting outcome and tribute to the people of Haiti, whose lives have been shattered by this disaster.”

Warmest Regards

Steve Jennings

Founder, zyOzy Foundation, a new kind of 501(c)(3) humanity benefit organization, on a mission to change the way WE think, make decisions, OUR habits of the heart, and how WE do business.

19 January, 2010: Major Corporate Donations To Haiti Relief Efforts:

• Bank of America announced a $1 million commitment to aid the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. The commitment includes a $500,000 grant to the American Red Cross for the Haitian Relief and Development Fund.
• JPMorgan Chase also said it would commit $1 million.
• Citigroup has indicated that it will give $2 million, including $250,000 to the American Red Cross.
• Morgan Stanley has pledged $1 million.
• Goldman Sachs will pitch in $1 million, and Wells Fargo $100,000.
• Walmart is donating 500,000 to the Red Cross, in addition to $100,000 worth of food.
• General Electric is contributing $2.5 million to relief efforts.
• Google is giving $1 million and has added a link on its homepage that explains ways people can support Haiti’s disaster relief.
• Virgin Atlantic, according to the Financial Times, is “flying key medical workers and relief agency staff to Haiti in its flights to Miami, Orlando and Jamaica during the coming days, while British Airways said it was preparing a Boeing 747 with capacity for up to 50 tonnes of cargo to fly to Haiti on Saturday.”
• McDonald’s said it will donate at least $1 million to relief efforts.
• Web hosting company Go Daddy pledged $500,000 to Hope for Haiti.
• The UPS Foundation committed $1 million to various relief organizations.
• The General Motors Foundation made a $100,000 contribution to the American Red Cross.
• Sprint gave $50,000 to the American Red Cross.
• Visa committed $200,000 to the Red Cross.
• The PepsiCo Foundation donated $1 million and committed Quaker products, bottled water, and Gatorade for victims of the earthquake in Haiti.
• Diageo Plc, the alcoholic drinks provider, committed to giving 45,000 pounds of food and emergency supplies to the earthquake victims.
• Yum! Brands Inc, a restaurant company, is contributing $500,000.
• Comcast is directing over $1 million to the relief efforts.
• Unilever donated $500,000 for earthquake victims in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme.
• Microsoft contributed $1.25 million.
• The Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) committed emergency hurricane supplies from its hospitals in the southern United States to the relief effort.
• U.S. Bank pledged $100,000 and committed to match employee donations.
• The Walt Disney Company said it would give $100,000 to earthquake victims.
• General Mills donated $250,000, $150,000 of which will be used for long-term rebuilding.
• Apple has allowed its customers to donate through iTunes. Donations can me made for $5, $10, $25, $50, $100 and $200. 100 percent of the money will go to the American Red Cross.
• Walgreens has donated $100,000 and is matching employee contributions of up to $50,000.
• Western Union has committed $250,000 and waving fees for sending money to Haiti for seven days.
• Dell has pledged $500,000 to be split evenly between UNICEF and the International Red Cross. The company is also matching employee donations up to a total of $250,000.
• Credit Suisse promised to match employees’ donations two-to-one.
• Target will donate $500,000 to the American Red Cross.
• UBS also said it would match employee contributions, up to a maximum of $500,000.
• Deutsche Bank will donate all of the commissions from its U.S. Equity Trading desk on Friday to the relief effort in Haiti.
• The broker dealer Jefferies said it would donate $1 million plus all of its commissions on Friday. The firm expects its total contribution to reach $5 million by the end of the day.
• Hewlett-Packard announced that it will donate $750,000, and may donate up to another $250,000.
• The Pew Charitable Trusts pledge $500,000 to the effort. One half of the donation will be granted to the American Red Cross and the other half will go to CARE.
• The Rothschild Estates donated $2.5 million to support the earthquake victims in Haiti.
• A number of pharmaceutical companies pledged to contribute money and drugs to the effort. Pfizer donated an undisclosed sum as well as drugs; Merck committed $350,000 and promised to match employee contributions, in addition to donating $200,000 worth of drugs to the country; GlaxoSmithKline sent money and drugs; Abbott said it would give $1 million; Eli Lilly pledged $250,000 and promised to match employee contributions up to that amount; Squibb sent medicine and will give $250,000; and Amgen gave $2 million.
• The Intel Foundation is matching employee donations.
• FedEx is providing shipping services for relief organizations.
• The Coca Cola Foundation donated $1 million to aid the relief effort.
• Time Warner will be matching employee donations up to $500,000 ($1 million total.
• Cigna is donating $50,000 and will match employee donations up to $50,000
• Southern Wine and Spirits is matching employee donations up to $100,000.
• Fifth Third Bancorp has donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross
• Amway Global has committed $100,000 and is offering to match donations made through its website
• Lowe’s will donate $1 million to the American Red Cross International Response Fund.
• Northrop Grumman has pledged $1 million