As Haiti continues to dig through the rubble following Tuesday’s devastating earthquake, several companies with headquarters or operations in Connecticut are pledging financial and other forms of support to aid America’s Caribbean neighbor.
United Technologies Corp, for example, has pledged up to $250,000 to match employee contributions to Red Cross disaster relief efforts.
Meanwhile, Aetna Inc. is offering medical evacuation for its customers with employees who have been injured in Haiti, while also expanding its employee assistance program and offering additional benefits to staff, plan members and families affected by the earthquake.
Additionally, The Aetna Foundation has initiated a dollar-for-dollar match for employee disaster relief donations to help the relief efforts in Haiti.Â
Webster Bank in Waterbury announced today a $10,000 donation to the Red Cross Haitian relief efforts, and encouraged employees, customers and others to support the effort.
Also, the philanthropic arm of Health Net Inc., which has operations and members in Connecticut, is matching employee donations with a contribution of $50,000.
“We are greatly saddened by this tragedy, and we extend our thoughts and deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones of those affected,” said Aetna Chairman and CEO Ronald A. Williams. “Our members and employees with family members in Haiti are of the utmost concern to us, and we are committed to supporting them through this difficult time.”
Besides expanding its employee assistance program, Aetna is expediting the filing of life insurance claims and extending claim submission dates, and matching donations to disaster relief funds made by its employees.
Aetna’s Community Relations group has activated its 47 Aetna Volunteer Councils to engage with relief agencies to respond to the disaster by collecting goods and funds and offering other assistance.
UTC will match 100 percent of individual contributions to Red Cross relief efforts up to $250 per employee, for a program maximum of $250,000 in matching funds. The Red Cross is raising money to pay for food, water, shelter, medical supplies and other humanitarian relief urgently needed in affected areas.
“UTC and its employees are saddened by the tragedy unfolding in Haiti,” said UTC Chairman and CEO Louis Chenevert. “The company is pleased to join with employees who are interested in contributing to help ease the suffering of those affected by this natural disaster.”
