General Mills Foundation Provides Ongoing Help for Post-Morakot Reconstruction

09/02/2009

Release in Taiwanese

After Typhoon Morakot hit Taiwan's southern counties and cities in August, General Mills Taiwan donated 100 boxes of Green Giant canned corn and Nature Valley granola bars to the Kaohsiung Tzu Chi Foundation to distribute to victims in the isolated Kaohsiung mountain area. The company immediately followed up and sent another 100 boxes of Green Giant canned corn and Nature Valley granola bars to aboriginal villagers, military personnel and disaster relief volunteers working in the Alisan area.

To support the long and arduous process of rebuilding, many General Mills employees in Asia are donating one day’s salary for disaster relief. In addition, the General Mills Foundation donated US$25,000 (about 822,750 NT dollars) to the International Red Cross for post-Morakot reconstruction. "General Mills employees around the world are expressing deep concern for people who have suffered heavy losses in this disaster, and we urgently want to help them re-settle and rebuild their homes and beautiful villages," said Ellen Luger, vice president of the General Mills Foundation.

As of Aug. 24, General Mills employees and the General Mills Foundation had donated a total of US$50,283 (about 1,654,800NT dollars) to the International Red Cross and World Vision Foundation.

"In seeing our people’s outburst of enthusiasm and excitement over the relief efforts, I am touched by their heartfelt, selfless gestures and actions, said Catherine Teng, managing director of General Mills Taiwan. We are people who have lived and grown up together on the land and are bound by our close and inseparable relationships with each other."

 As Typhoon Morakot is Taiwan's worst natural disaster in 50 years, Teng added, "To rebuild after this disaster is critical, so we see that compassion and relief support for the displaced victims as needing ongoing attention. As a corporate citizen, General Mills Taiwan stands ready to extend its compassion to help those in need.

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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.

In Taiwan, General Mills markets Häagen-Dazs super premium ice cream, Green Giant corn, Wanchai Ferry frozen hand-made dumplings, and Nature Valley granola bars.

Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the General Mills Foundation was created in 1954 to focus the company’s philanthropic resources on community needs. Its grants and other philanthropic programs across the company contribute to the company’s leadership in corporate philanthropy. In fiscal 2009, General Mills provided $91 million in total givings, or about 5 percent of the company’s pretax profits.