General Mills supports disaster relief in Georgia, the Philippines
10/01/2009
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Flood waters last week in the southeastern U.S. state of Georgia followed by a weekend typhoon in the Philippines prompted the General Mills Foundation to make two separate $25,000 disaster relief grants to support relief efforts in both areas.
The Foundation grants were given to the American Red Cross Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter, and to the International Red Cross to assist recovery efforts in the Manila area.
“We are pleased to provide assistance to help with the recovery in both of these areas,” says Ellen Luger, executive director of the General Mills Foundation. “It’s important that we support our communities – here and around the globe – by providing support for relief efforts during challenging times.”
This month's storm has been one of the worst in history for the southeastern United States. Of the 3,000 homes affected by flooding, 700 sustained significant damage. The death toll in Georgia and Alabama stands at 10.
Epic rainfall follows typhoon in the Philippines
Typhoon Ondoy and its ensuing storms dumped 16.7 inches of rain in six hours over the Philippines last weekend causing heavy flooding and widespread power outages.
The storm affected more than 350,000 people, who in the aftermath needed basic supplies such as food, clothes, blankets and medicines. Supermarkets were emptied of most grocery staples.
General Mills Philippines sells products such as Pillsbury and Betty Crocker pancake and baking mixes, Gold Medal flour, Nature Valley granola bars, Old El Paso Mexican meals and Häagen-Dazs super premium ice cream.
General Mills employees also donated clothes and blankets to a relief center, repackaged rice for easy distribution to victims, and donated Nature Valley granola bars to provide evacuees with ready-to-eat food.
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About General Mills
One of the world's leading food companies, General Mills operates in more than 100 countries and markets more than 100 consumer brands, including Cheerios, Häagen-Dazs, Nature Valley, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Old El Paso, Progresso, Cascadian Farm, Muir Glen, and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A., General Mills had fiscal 2009 global net sales of US$15.9 billion, including the company’s $1.2 billion proportionate share of joint venture net sales.
