the initial U.S. "pledge" of $35 million.
"The giving by U.S. corporations easily eclipsed the initial $35 million in aid set aside by the U.S. government. For the Red Cross and other aid groups, the corporate giving is part of the largest surge in donations since the 2001 terrorist attacks. Among the biggest corporate givers are Pfizer Inc., which is donating $10 million in cash and $25 million worth of drugs to relief agencies; Coca-Cola Co., which is donating $10 million; Exxon Mobil Corp., which is giving $5 million; and Citigroup Inc., which is contributing $3 million.
Pharmaceutical and health care products companies as a group are among the biggest givers. Merck & Co. Inc. is giving $3 million, Johnson & Johnson and Abbott Laboratories Inc. each are donating $2 million and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. is donating $1 million in cash and $4 million in antibiotics and antifungal drugs."
http://www.startribune.com/stories/535/5162233.htmland:
"Northwest Airlines soon will start flying relief supplies to Asia to help the tsunami survivors. The Eagan-based carrier said Thursday it will carry up to 200 tons of supplies over the next 60 days. Northwest has teamed up with AmeriCares, a Connecticut-based nonprofit, to deliver medical and other relief supplies. The two have worked together on several disaster relief efforts, so they were poised to react quickly, said Jim Friedel, president of NWA Cargo. The first 20 tons of supplies might go as early as today.
Northwest plans to make space available on its existing cargo and passenger flights to carry the AmeriCares goods between the United States and Bangkok, Thailand, and Singapore. "We are prepared to run extra trips if necessary," Friedel said."
http://www.startribune.com/stories/535/5162225.html